Apparatus for transmitting broadcasting signal, apparatus for receiving broadcasting signal, and method for transmitting/receiving broadcasting signal through apparatus for transmitting/receiving broadcasting signal

ABSTRACT

A method for transmitting a broadcasting signal according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: encoding Physical Layer Pipe (PLP) data including a base layer and an enhancement layer of a broadcasting service and signaling information for signaling the PLP data, respectively; and generating a transmission frame, the transmission frame including a preamble and a plurality of PLPs, the preamble including the encoded signaling information, the plurality of PLPs including the encoded PLP data, the encoded signaling information including signaling information related to a bootstrap, at least one of the plurality of PLPs transmitting a bootstrap IP packet and a plurality of broadcasting signals including the generated transmission frame, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Phase of PCT/KR2011/006706 filed onSep. 9, 2011, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/382,908 filed on Sep. 14, 2010, all ofwhich are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the presentapplication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a broadcast signal transmittingapparatus for transmitting a broadcast signal, a broadcast receivingapparatus for receiving a broadcast signal, and a method of transmittingand receiving a broadcast signal and, most particularly, to an apparatusand method for transmitting and receiving a mobile broadcast signal.

BACKGROUND ART

As the time has neared to end (or terminate) the transmission of analogbroadcast signals, diverse technologies for transmitting and receivingdigital broadcast signals are being researched and developed. Herein, adigital broadcast signal may include high capacity video/audio data ascompared to an analog broadcast signal, and, in addition to thevideo/audio data, the digital broadcast signal may also include diverseadditional data.

More specifically, a digital broadcasting system for digitalbroadcasting may provide HD (High Definition) level images,multiple-channel sound (or audio), and a wide range of additionalservices. However, a data transmission efficiency for transmitting highcapacity data, a robustness of transmitting and receiving network, andflexibility in a network considering mobile receiving equipments arestill required to be enhanced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Objects

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide abroadcast signal transmitting apparatus and a broadcast receivingapparatus that can transmit and receive additional broadcast signals, amethod for transmitting and receiving additional broadcast signals, byusing an RF signal of a conventional broadcasting system without havingto ensure any additional frequency.

Another object is to provide a broadcast signal transmitting apparatusand a broadcast receiving apparatus that can transmit and receive mobilebroadcast signals, a method for transmitting and receiving mobilebroadcast signals, by using an RF signal of a conventional broadcastingsystem without having to ensure any additional frequency.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcastsignal transmitting apparatus, a broadcast signal receiving apparatus,and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcast signal using thesame that can distinguish data corresponding to a service for eachcomponent, and transmit the corresponding data to each component throughseparate PLPs, so that the transmitted data can be received andprocessed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcastsignal transmitting apparatus, a broadcast signal receiving apparatus,and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcast signal using thesame that can signal signaling information required for servicing abroadcast signal.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcastsignal transmitting apparatus, a broadcast signal receiving apparatus,and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcast signal using thesame that can signal signaling information, so that a broadcast signalcan be received in accordance with a receiver characteristic.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcastsignal transmitting apparatus, a broadcast signal receiving apparatus,and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcast signal that canreduce an overhead of a data packet by compressing a header of the datapacket, when performing an IP-based transmission of a broadcast signal,and transmitting the compressed header, and by having a receiver releasethe compression (or perform decompression).

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcastsignal transmitting apparatus, a broadcast signal receiving apparatus,and a method for transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal, whichenable fast reception of bootstrap signaling information and ElectronicService Guide (ESG) signaling information, when an Internet Protocol(IP)-based broadcast signal is received.

Technical Solutions

In order to achieve the above-described technical object of the presentinvention, a method for receiving a broadcast signal includes receivinga plurality of broadcast signals including a transmission frame fortransmitting a broadcast service and Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM)-demodulating the plurality of broadcast signals,parsing the transmission frame included in the demodulated broadcastsignals, the transmission frame including a preamble having signalinginformation and a plurality of Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs) having PLPdata that includes a base layer and an enhancement layer of thebroadcast service, the signaling information including signalinginformation about a bootstrap, and at least one of the plurality of PLPscarrying a bootstrap Internet Protocol (IP) packet, decoding thesignaling information about the bootstrap included in the signalinginformation by decoding the signaling information included in thepreamble of the parsed transmission frame, the signaling informationabout the bootstrap including an Identifier (ID) that identifies a PLPcarrying the bootstrap IP packet, and receiving the bootstrap and anElectronic Service Guide (ESG) by selecting and decoding PLPs using thedecoded signaling information.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, a transmitter may performtransmission by generating a PLP for each component configuring aservice, and a receiver may identify and decode the PLP, which isreceived for each component. Thus, the present invention may respond tothe mobile broadcast communication environment with more flexibility.

The transmitter of the present invention may distinguish one componentas a component of a base layer and as a component of at least oneenhancement layer, and may transmit the distinguished component. And,the receiver may decode only the component of the base layer so as toprovide an image with basic picture quality, or the receiver may decodethe component of the base layer along with the component of at least oneenhancement layer so as to provide an image with higher picture quality.Thus, the present invention may provide images having diverse picturequalities in accordance with the receiver characteristic.

By compressing a header of the data packet, when performing an IP-basedtransmission of a broadcast signal, and transmitting the compressedheader, and by having the receiver recover the compressed header, thepresent invention may reduce the overhead of an IP-based data packet.Thus, IP-based broadcasting may be efficiently supported in a mobileenvironment.

By using a MIMO system, the present invention may increase datatransmission efficiency and may enhance robustness in broadcast signaltransmission/reception.

In addition, since bootstrap signaling information and ESG signalinginformation are transmitted in specific PLPs, a receiver can provide afast service by acquiring a bootstrap and an ESG rapidly according tothe present invention.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the present invention mayprovide a method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a broadcastsignal that can receive a digital broadcast signal without any erroreven in a mobile receiving equipment or an indoor environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a super frame according to anembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of a signal frame according to anembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a PLP-based signal frame according toan embodiment of the present invention,

(a) of FIG. 4 illustrates a P1 symbol structure according to the presentinvention and (b) of FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing anexemplary structure of a P1 symbol generator according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of a P1 symbol and a structure of an AP1symbol according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram showing a broadcast signaltransmitting apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart showing a method of transmitting anIP-based broadcast signal according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram showing an input pre-processoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention,

(a) to (c) of FIG. 9 illustrate an example of configuring a PLP incomponent units in an input pre-processor according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart showing a pre-processing method of abroadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram showing a BICM module according toan embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram showing a BICM module according toanother embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram showing a frame builder according toan embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram showing a broadcast signal receivingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram showing a frame demapper accordingto an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram showing a BICM decoder according toan embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram showing a BICM decoder according toanother embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of P1 signalinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of AP1 signalinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of L1-pre signalinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of configurableL1-post signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of dynamic L1-postsignaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 23 illustrates a conceptual diagram of a correlation between aservice and a PLP according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of anIP/MAC_location_descriptor according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart showing the process steps of a servicescanning method of the receiver according to an embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIG. 26 illustrates a conceptual diagram showing NGH broadcast servicesignaling in the case of OMA-BCAST according to an embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIG. 27 illustrates a conceptual diagram showing NGH broadcast servicesignaling in the case of DVB-IPDC according to an embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIG. 28 illustrates a conceptual diagram showing an operation forrecovering an SVC substream using an ESG and an SDP according to anembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 29 illustrates a syntax of a binary data format including IP-PLPmapping information according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 30 illustrates a syntax of an XML format including IP-PLP mappinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 31 illustrates a flowchart showing a channel scanning methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 32 illustrates a flowchart showing a boot-up service according toan embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 33 illustrates a syntax structure of an L1 signaling informationregion according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 34 illustrates a syntax of a binary data format including bootstrapand ESG signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 35 illustrates a syntax of a PSI/SI data format including bootstrapand ESG signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 36 illustrates a syntax of an XML data format including bootstrapand ESG signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 37 illustrates a flowchart showing an operation for starting aservice according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 38 illustrates a flowchart showing an operation for starting aservice according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 39 illustrates a conceptual diagram showing a structure of a signalframe and an operation for receiving a bootstrap and an ESG according toa first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 40 illustrates a conceptual diagram showing a structure of a signalframe and an operation for receiving a bootstrap and an ESG according toa second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 41 illustrates a structure of a common PLP according to a secondembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 42 illustrates a syntax of system information according to anembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 43 illustrates a syntax of cell information according to anembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 44 illustrates a conceptual diagram showing a structure of a signalframe and a method for signaling L2 signaling information according toan embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 45 illustrates a syntax of L2 signaling information according to anembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 46 illustrates a flowchart showing a method for transmitting abroadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present invention,and

FIG. 47 illustrates a flowchart showing a method for receiving abroadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE PRESENT INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. And, thescope and spirit of the present invention will not be limited only tothe exemplary embodiments presented herein.

Although the terms used in the present invention are selected fromgenerally known and used terms, the detailed meanings of which aredescribed in relevant parts of the description herein. It should benoted that the terms used herein may vary depending upon the intentionsor general practice of anyone skilled in the art and also depending uponthe advent of a novel technology. Some of the terms mentioned in thedescription of the present invention have been selected by the applicantat his or her discretion, terms used herein. Furthermore, it is requiredthat the present invention is understood, not simply by the actual termsused but by the meaning of each term lying within.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method fortransmitting and receiving an additional broadcast signal, while sharingan RF frequency band with related art broadcast system, such as aconventional terrestrial broadcast system (or also referred to as a T2system), e.g., DVB-T2. In the present invention, the additionalbroadcast signal may correspond to an extension (or enhanced) broadcastsignal and/or a mobile broadcast signal.

In the description of the present invention, an additional broadcastsignal refers to as signal that is processed and transmitted inaccordance with a non-MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output) method or a MIMOmethod. Herein, a MISO (Multi Input Single Output) method, a SISO(Single Input Single Output) method, and so on, may correspond to thenon-MIMO method.

Hereinafter, 2 antennae may be given as an example of the multi antennaeof the MISO method or the MIMO for simplicity of the description of thepresent invention. And, such description of the present invention may beapplied to all types of systems using 2 or more antennae.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary super frame structure according to thepresent invention. The super frame of FIG. 1 transmits an additionalbroadcast signal (e.g., mobile broadcast signal). A super frame may beconfigured of a plurality of frames, and the frames belonging to onesuper frame may be transmitted by using the same transmission method.The super frame according to the embodiment of the present invention maybe configured of multiple T2 frames (also referred to as a terrestrialbroadcast frame) and additional non-T2 frames for the additionalbroadcast signal. Herein, a non-T2 frame may include an FEF (FutureExtension Frame) part being provided by the related art T2 system. TheFEF part may not be contiguous and may be inserted in-between the T2frames. The additional broadcast signal may be included in the T2 frameor FEF part, so as to be transmitted.

When a mobile broadcast signal is transmitted through FET part, the FEFpart will be referred to as an NGH (Next Generation Handheld) frame.

At this point, 1 NGH frame may be transmitted for each N number of T2frames (i.e., NGH-T2 frame ratio=1/N or N:1), and the T2 frame and theNGH frame may be alternately transmitted (i.e., NGH-T2 frame ratio=1/2or 1:1). If the NGH-T2 frame ratio is equal to 1/N, the time consumed bythe receiver in order to receive an NGH frame after receiving a previousNGH frame is equivalent to the time corresponding to N number of T2frames.

Meanwhile, among the components configuring a broadcast service, thepresent invention may divide a video component to multiple videocomponents and may transmit the divided video components. For example, avideo component may be divided into a basic video component and anextension video component, and may then be transmitted accordingly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to enhancetransmission stability, the basic video component may be transmitted ina non-MIMO method, and the extension video component may be transmittedin an MIMO method in order to provide an enhanced throughput.

In the present invention, the basic video component will hereinafter bereferred to as a video component of a base layer, and the extensionvideo component will hereinafter be referred to as a video component ofan enhancement layer. Additionally, for simplicity of the description,in the present invention, the video component of the base layer will beused in combination with video data of the base layer (or data of thebase layer), and the video component of the enhancement layer will beused in combination with video data of the enhancement layer (or data ofthe enhancement layer).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the presentinvention may encode video data by using an SVC (Scalable Video Coding)method, thereby dividing the encoded video data into video data of thebase layer (or base layer video data) and video data of the enhancementlayer (or enhancement layer video data). Herein, the SVC method ismerely exemplary. And, therefore, other arbitrary video coding methodshaving scalability may also be used herein.

The data of the base layer (or the base layer data) correspond to datafor images having basic picture quality. Herein, although the base layerdata are robust against the communication environment, the base layerdata have low picture quality. And, the data of the enhancement layer(or the enhancement layer data) correspond to additional data for imagesof higher picture quality and may, therefore, provide images having highpicture quality. However, the enhancement layer data are weak againstthe communication environment.

In the present invention, video data for terrestrial broadcasting may bedivided into base layer data and enhancement layer data, and video datafor mobile broadcasting may be divided into base layer data andenhancement layer data in order to flexibly respond to the mobilebroadcasting communication environment.

The receiver may decode only video layer of the base data (or base layervideo data), so as to provide an image having basic picture quality, orthe receiver may decode both the base layer video data and the videolayer of the enhancement data (or enhancement layer video data), so asto provide an image having a higher picture quality.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the enhancementlayer video data may be transmitted through an FEF, and the base layerdata may be transmitted through the T2 frame and/or FEF.

In the present invention, an audio component may include an audiocomponent of a base layer (or base layer audio component) for providingbasic sound quality, such as 2 channel or 2.1 channel, and an audiocomponent of an enhancement layer (or enhancement layer audio component)for providing additional sound quality, such as 5.1 channel orMPEG-Surround.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a signal frame mayrefer to any one of a T2 frame, an FEF transmitting a mobile broadcastsignal (i.e., NGH frame), a T2 frame transmitting base layer video data,and an FEF transmitting enhancement layer video data. In the descriptionof the present invention, the signal frame and the transmission framewill be used to have the same meaning.

In the present invention, a PLP (physical layer pipe) corresponding toan identifiable data (or stream) unit. Also, the PLP may be consideredas a physical layer TDM (Time Division Multiplex) channel, whichtransmits (or delivers) one or more services. More specifically, eachservice may be transmitted and received through multiple RF channels.Herein, the PLP may represent a path through which such service is beingtransmitted or may represent a stream being transmitted through suchpath. The PLP may also be located in slots being distributed to multipleRF channels at predetermined time intervals, and the PLP may also bedistributed in a single RF channel at predetermined time intervals.Therefore, signal frame may transmit a PLP, which is distributed to asingle RF channel based upon a time reference. In other words, one PLPmay be distributed to a single RF channel or multiple RF channels basedupon a time reference.

In the present invention, one service may be transmitted to one PLP, andcomponents configuring a service may be divided (or differentiated), sothat each of the differentiated components can be transmitted to adifferent PLP. If service components configuring a single service aredifferentiated from one another so as to be respectively transmitted toa different PLP, the receiver may gather (or collect) the multiplecomponents, so as to combine the collected components to a singleservice. In the present invention, the service component and thecomponent will be used to have the same meaning.

FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of a signal frame according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The signal frame of FIG. 2 represents a structure of a signal frame overa physical layer. The signal frame includes a P1 signaling informationregion (or part), an L1 signaling information region, and a PLP region.More specifically, the P1 signaling information region may be allocatedto a foremost portion of the corresponding signal frame, and, then, theL1 signaling information region and the PLP region may be sequentiallyallocated after the P1 signaling information region. In the descriptionof the present invention, only the information being included in the L1signaling information region may be referred to as L1 signalinginformation, or signaling information being included in the P1 signalinginformation region and signaling information being included in the L1signaling information region may be collectively referred to as the L1signaling information.

As shown in FIG. 2, P1 signaling information that is being transmittedto the P1 signaling information region may be used for detecting asignal frame (or NGH broadcast signal) and may include tuninginformation and information for identifying preamble itself.

Based upon the P1 signaling information, the subsequent L1 signalinginformation region is decoded, so as to acquire information on the PLPstructure and the signal frame configuration. More specifically, the L1signaling information includes L1-pre-signaling information andL1-post-signaling information. Herein, the L1-pre-signaling informationincludes information required by the receiver to receive and decodeL1-post-signaling information. And, the L1-post-signaling informationincludes parameters required by the receiver for accessing the PLP. TheL1-post-signaling information may then include ConfigurableL1-post-signaling information, Dynamic L1-post-signaling information,Extension L1-post-signaling information, and CRC information, and theL1-post-signaling information may further include L1 padding data. Inthe present invention, configurable L1-post signaling information hasthe same meaning as the L1-post configurable signaling information.Moreover, dynamic L1-post signaling information has the same meaning asthe L1-post dynamic signaling information

Meanwhile, in the signal frame, the PLP region is configured of at leastone common PLP and at least one data PLP.

A common PLP may include PSI/SI (Program and SystemInformation/Signaling Information).

Specifically, when a broadcast signal corresponds to an IP format, thecommon PLP may include an IP information table, such as n INT (IP/MACnotification table). In addition, the common PLP may further includestart information such as bootstrap and meta data for service guide suchas ESG or SD&S. In the description of the present invention, informationbeing included in the common PLP may be referred to as L2 signalinginformation. The L2 signaling information may be transmitted in thecommon PLP or PLP data, which depends on a designer's intention.

If the L2 signaling information is transmitted in the common PLP, aregion carrying the L2 signaling information may be referred to as an L2signaling information region. The L2 signaling information region mayinclude the common PLP.

More specifically, L1 signaling information includes informationrequired by the broadcast signal receiver for processing a PLP within asignal frame, and the L2 signaling information includes information thatcan be commonly applied to multiple PLPs. Accordingly, the broadcastsignal receiver may use P1 signaling information included in a P1signaling information region, so as to decode an L1 signalinginformation region, thereby acquiring information on the structure ofPLP included in the signal frame and information a frame structure. Mostparticularly, the broadcast signal receiver may be capable of knowingthrough which PLP each of the service components being included in thecorresponding service is being transmitted by referring to the L1signaling information and/or the L2 signaling information. Additionally,the BICM module of the broadcast signal transmitter may encode signalinginformation associated with a broadcast service and may transmit L1/L2signaling information, so that the broadcast signal receiver can performdecoding. Moreover, the MICM decoder of the broadcast signal receivermay decode the L1/L2 signaling information.

At this point, when the L1 signaling information includes information onthe service components, the broadcast signal receiver may recognize theinformation on the service components at the same time the broadcastsignal receiver receives the signal frame, and the broadcast signalreceiver may then apply the corresponding information. However, sincethe size of the L1 signaling information is limited, the size (oramount) of the information on the service components that can betransmitted from the broadcast signal transmitter may also be limited.Accordingly, the L1 signaling information region is most adequate forrecognizing the information on the service components at the same timethe broadcast signal receiver receives the signal frame and fortransmitting information that can be applied to the broadcast signalreceiver.

If the L2 signaling information includes information on the servicecomponents, the broadcast signal receiver may acquire information on theservice components after the decoding of the L2 signaling information iscompleted. Therefore, the broadcast signal receiver may not be capableof recognizing the information on the service components at the sametime the broadcast signal receiver receives the signal frame and may notbe capable of modifying the corresponding information. However, sincethe size of the region transmitting the L2 signaling information islarger than the L1 signaling information region, the L2 signalinginformation region may transmit a larger amount (or size) of servicecomponent data. Accordingly, the L2 signaling information is adequatefor transmitting general information on service components.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the L1 signalinginformation may be used along with the L2 signaling information. Morespecifically, the L1 signaling information may include information thatcan be modified (or changed) at the same time the broadcast signalreceiver receives the signal frame in a PLP level, such as a high mobileperformance and a high-speed data communication characteristic, or mayinclude information of service components that can be modified (orchanged) at any time during the broadcast signal transmission.Additionally, the L2 signaling information may include information onthe service components and general information on channel reception,which are included in a service.

Meanwhile, if the broadcast signal corresponds to a TS format, a dataPLP, which is included in the signal frame, may include audio, video,and data TS streams. Furthermore, the TS-based data PLP may includePSI/SI information such as a PAT (Program Association Table) and a PMT(Program Map Table). If the broadcast signal corresponds to an IPformat, the data PLP may include audio, video, and data IP streams. Atthis point, IP packets, which configure each of the IP streams, may bepacketized by using an RTP (Real Time Protocol) or FLUTE (File Deliveryover Unidirectional Transport). Additionally, IP-based data PLP mayinclude control information, which is packetized by using an RTSP (RealTime Streaming Protocol) method. In the present invention, a data PLPincluding PAT/PMT or a data PLP including control information may alsobe referred to a base PLP. The data PLP may include a Type1 data PLP,which is transmitted by one sub-slice for each signal frame, and a Type2data PLP, which is transmitted by multiple sub-slices. In thedescription of the present invention, for simplicity of the description,P number of data PLPs will hereinafter be indicated as PLP1˜PLPp. Morespecifically, audio, video, and data TS streams and PSI/SI information(or control information), such as PAT/PMT, are transmitted throughPLP1˜PLPp. The data PLPs of FIG. 2 correspond to examples afterscheduling and interleaving.

In the present invention the common PLP may be decoded along with a dataPLP, and the data PLP may be selectively (or optionally) decoded. Morespecifically, a common PLP+data PLP may always be decoded. However, insome cases data PLP1+data PLP2 may not be decoded. Information beingincluded in the common PLP may include the PSI/SI information.Additionally, Auxiliary Data may be added to the signal frame. Moreover,CRC data may be added to the signal frame.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a PLP-based signal frame according toan embodiment of the present invention.

The signal frame of FIG. 3 is a structure of a signal frame at a symbollevel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In light of the symbol level, the signal frame according to the presentinvention is divided into a preamble region and a data region. Thepreamble region is configured of a P1 symbol and at least one or more P2symbols, and the data region is configured of a plurality of datasymbols.

Herein, the P1 symbol transmits P1 signaling information. The at leastone or more P2 symbols transmit L1-pre-signaling information,L1-post-signaling information, and signaling information being includedin the common PLP (i.e., L2 signaling information). The signalinginformation being included in the common PLP may be transmitted througha data symbol. Therefore, in light of the signal frame over a physicallayer, the preamble region includes a P1 signaling information region,an L1 signaling information region, and a portion or an entire portionof the common PLP region. In the description of the present invention aPLP transmitting PSI/SI and, more particularly, PAT/PMT will hereinafterbe referred to a base PLP.

Data PLPs being transmitted through multiple data symbols may include aType1 data PLP being transmitted, which is transmitted by one sub-slicefor each signal frame, and a Type2 data PLP, which is transmitted bymultiple sub-slices. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, when both the Type 1 data PLP and the Type2 data PLP exist ina signal frame, the Type1 data PLP is first allocated, and the Type2data PLP is allocated afterwards.

The Type1 data PLP refers to having one sub-slice within a signal frame,i.e., one PLP being continuously transmitted within a signal frame. Forexample, when it is assumed that 2 type1 data PLPs (PLP1, PLP2) arebeing transmitted, when all of the data of PLP1 are first allocated tothe corresponding signal frame, then all of the data of PLP2 areallocated afterwards, and, thereafter, the data are transmitted.

The Type2 data PLP refers to a PLP having two or more sub-slices withinthe signal frame. More specifically, the data of each PLP are dividedinto as many sections as the number of sub-slices. And, then, thedivided data are distributed and transmitted to each sub-slice. Forexample, when it is assumed that 2 Type2 data PLP (PLP3, PLP4) exist ina single signal frame, and when it is assumed that each Type2 data PLPhas 2 sub-slices, the data of PLP3 and the data of PLP4 are each dividedinto 2 equal sections, and the divided data are sequentially allocatedto the 2 sub-slices of the corresponding PLP. At this point, accordingto the embodiment of the present invention, the sub-slice for PLP3 andthe sub-slice for PLP4 are alternately positioned so as to betransmitted accordingly. In order to gain higher time diversity, thepresent invention uses the Type2 data PLP.

In the description of the present invention, one data PLP may correspondto one service, and one data PLP may also correspond to any one of theservice components configuring a service, such as a video component (oralso referred to as a base layer video component), an extension videocomponent (or also referred to as an enhancement layer video component),and audio component, and a data component other than the video and audiocomponents.

Meanwhile, the present invention may transmit separate signalinginformation from the transmitter, so that the receiver can identifyadditional broadcast signal frame, such as an NGH frame, and process theidentified frame. The present invention transmits separate signalinginformation through a P1 symbol. And, herein, the P1 symbol will bereferred to as a new_system_P1 symbol.

The new_system_P1 symbol may be different from the P1 symbol, and aplurality of new_system_P1 symbols may be used herein. At this point,according to the embodiment of the present invention, the new_system_P1symbol is located at the beginning of the signal frame, i.e., located ata front portion of a first P2 symbol within a preamble region. In thiscase, the preamble region may be configured of at least one or morenew_system_P1 symbols and at least one or more P2 symbols.

(a) of FIG. 4 illustrates a P1 symbol structure according to anembodiment of the present invention and (b) of FIG. 4 illustrates ablock diagram of a P1 symbol generator according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. (a) of FIG. 4 illustrates a P1 symbol structureaccording to the present invention. In (a) of FIG. 4, the P1 symbol andP2 symbol portion will be referred to as a preamble region, and a bodyregion will be referred to as a data region. The data region may beconfigured of a plurality of data symbols (also referred to as data OFDMsymbols).

In (a) of FIG. 4, P1 symbol is generated by having each of a frontportion and an end portion of an effective (or valid) symbol copied, byhaving a frequency shift performed as much as +f_(sh), and by having thefrequency-shifted copies respectively positioned at a front portion (C)and an end portion (B) of the effective symbol (A). In the presentinvention, the C portion will be referred to as a prefix, and the Bportion will be referred to as a postfix. More specifically, P1 symbolis configured of a prefix portion, an effective symbol portion, and apostfix portion. In the description of the present invention, such P1symbol structure will also be referred to as a C-A-B structure. At thispoint, according to the present invention, the P1 symbol corresponds to1K OFDM symbol. And, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the A portion (T_(P1A)) may have the length of 112 us, the Cportion (T_(P1C)) may have the length of 59 us, and the B portion(T_(P1B)) may have the length of 53 us.

(b) of FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing an exemplary structureof a P1 symbol generator according to the present invention. Herein, (b)of FIG. 4 includes a CDS (Carrier Distribution Sequence) table module000100, an MSS (Modulation Signaling Sequence) module 000200, a DBPSK(Differential Binary Phase Shift Keying) mapping module 000300, ascrambling module 000400, a padding module 000500, an IFFT module000600, and a C-A-B structure module 000700. After being processed withthe operations of each block included in the P1 symbol generator shownin (b) of FIG. 4, the P1 symbols shown in (a) of FIG. 4 is finallyoutputted from the C-A-B structure module 000700.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the structure ofthe P1 symbol, shown in (a) of FIG. 4, may be modified, or the P1 symbolgenerator, shown in (b) of FIG. 4 may be modified, so as to generate anew_system_P1 symbol.

If the new_system_P1 symbol is generated by modifying the P1 symbolshown in (a) of FIG. 4, the new_system_P1 symbol may be generated byusing at least one of the following methods. For example, thenew_system_P1 symbol may be generated by modifying a frequency shift (ordisplacement) value (f_(SH)) for a prefix and a postfix. In anotherexample, the new_system_P1 symbol may be generated by modifying (orchanging) the length of the P1 symbol (e.g., T_(P1C) and T_(P1B)lengths). In yet another example, the new_system_P1 symbol may begenerated by replacing the length of the P1 symbol from 1K to512,256,128, and so on. In this case, the parameters (e.g., f_(SH),T_(P1C), T_(P1B)) that are used in the P1 symbol structure should beadequately corrected.

If the new_system_P1 symbol is generated by modifying the P1 symbolgenerator shown in (b) of FIG. 4, the new_system_P1 symbol may begenerated by using at least one of the following methods. For example,the new_system_P1 symbol may be generated by using a method of changingthe distribution of active carriers (e.g., a method of having the CDStable module 000100 use another CSS (Complementary Set of Sequence),which are used for the P1 symbol, through the CDS table module 000100,the MSS module 000200, and the C-A-B structure module 000700. In anotherexample, the new_system_P1 symbol may be generated by using a method ofchanging a pattern for transmitting information to the P1 symbol (e.g.,a method of having the MSS module 000200 use another CSS), and so on.

Meanwhile, the present invention may additionally allocate a preamblesymbol to the preamble region within a signal frame, particularly an NGHframe. Hereinafter, the additional preamble signal will be referred toas an AP1 symbol (Additional Preamble symbol) for simplicity in thedescription of the present invention. In order to enhance the detectionperformance for detecting a mobile broadcast (i.e., NGH) signal, in aconsiderably low SNR condition or a time-selective fading condition, atleast one or more AP1 symbol is added to the signal frame.

At this point, according to the embodiment of the present invention, theAP1 symbol is located between a P1 symbol and a first P2 symbol withinthe preamble region of a signal frame. More specifically, the P1 symboland the AP1 symbol are consecutively transmitted. According to theembodiment of the present invention, if the P2 symbol is not transmittedto the signal frame, the AP1 symbol may be located between the P1 symboland the first data symbol within the preamble region of the signalframe. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the P1symbol and the AP1 symbol may be allocated to non-consecutive positionswithin a single signal frame, so as to be transmitted.

For example, when a signal frame includes an AP1 symbol, the preambleregion of the signal frame is configured of a P1 symbol, at least one ormore AP1 symbols, and at least one or more P2 symbols. And, the dataregion may be configured of a plurality of data symbols (or data OFDMsymbols).

As described in the embodiments for generating the new_system_P1 symbol,according to the embodiment of the present invention, the AP1 symbol maybe generated by modifying the structure of the P1 symbol, shown in (a)of FIG. 4, or by modifying the P1 symbol generator, shown in (b) of FIG.4. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the AP1 symbolmay be generated by modifying both the structure of the P1 symbol, shownin (a) of FIG. 4, and the P1 symbol generator, shown in (b) of FIG. 4.

As described in the embodiment of the present invention, when at least 2or more preamble symbols are used, the present invention is advantageousin that the present invention can be more robust against a burst fadingeffect, which may occur in a mobile fading environment, and that asignal detection performance can be enhanced.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of a P1 symbol and a structure of an AP1symbol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 5 shows an example of generating an AP1 symbolby modifying the P1 symbol.

In FIG. 5, P1 symbol, which is shown on the left side, is generated byhaving each of a front portion and an end portion of an effective (orvalid) symbol copied, by having a frequency shift performed as much as+f_(sh), and by having the frequency-shifted copies respectivelypositioned at a front portion (C) and an end portion (B) of theeffective symbol (A). In the present invention, the C portion will bereferred to as a prefix, and the B portion will be referred to as apostfix. More specifically, P1 symbol is configured of a prefix portion,an effective symbol portion, and a postfix portion.

In FIG. 5, AP1 symbol, which is shown on the right side, is generated byhaving each of a front portion and an end portion of an effective (orvalid) symbol copied, by having a frequency shift performed as much as−f_(sh), and by having the frequency-shifted copies respectivelypositioned at a front portion (F) and an end portion (E) of theeffective symbol (D). In the present invention, the F portion will bereferred to as a prefix, and the E portion will be referred to as apostfix. More specifically, AP1 symbol is configured of a prefixportion, an effective symbol portion, and a postfix portion.

Herein, the two frequency-shift values +f_(sh), −f_(sh), which are usedin the P1 symbol and the AP1 symbol, may have the same absolute valueyet be given opposite signs. More specifically, the frequency-shift isperformed in opposite directions. And, the lengths C and F, which arecopied to the front portion of the effective symbol, may be set to havedifferent values. And, the lengths B and E, which are copied to the endportion of the effective symbol, may be set to have different values.Alternatively, the lengths C and F may be set to have different values,and the lengths B and E may be set to have the same value, or viceversa. According to another embodiment of the present invention, aneffective symbol length of the P1 symbol and an effective symbol lengthof the AP1 symbol may be differently determined. And, according to yetanother embodiment of the present invention, a CSS (Complementary SetSequence) may be used for tone selection and data scrambling within theAP1 may be scrambled by AP1.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of Cand F, which are copied to the front portion of the effective (or valid)symbol, may be set to have different values, and the lengths of B and E,which are copied to the end portion of the effective (or valid) symbol,may also be set to have different values.

The C,B,F,E lengths according to the present invention may be obtainedby using Equation 1 shown below.Length of C(T _(C))={Length of A(T _(A))/2+30}Length of B(T _(B))={Length of A(T _(A))/2−30}Length of E(T _(F))={Length of D(T _(D))/2+15}Length of E(T _(E))={Length of D(T _(D))/2−15}  [Equation 1]

As shown in Equation 1, P1 symbol and AP1 symbol have the same frequencyshift value. However, each of the P1 symbol and the AP1 symbol are givenopposite signs. Additionally, in order to determine the lengths of C andB, the present invention determines an offset value being added to orsubtracted from a value corresponding to the length of A (T_(A))/2. And,in order to determine the lengths of F and E, the present inventiondetermines an offset value being added to or subtracted from a valuecorresponding to the length of D (T_(D))/2. Herein, each of the offsetvalues is set up differently. According to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the offset value of P1 symbol is set to 30, and the offsetvalue of AP1 symbol is set to 15. However, the values given in theabove-described examples are merely exemplary. And, therefore, it willbe apparent that the corresponding values may easily be varied orchanged by anyone skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention willnot be limited only to the values presented herein.

According to the present invention, by generating AP1 symbol and an AP1symbol to configure the structure shown in FIG. 5, and by inserting thegenerated symbols to each signal frame, the P1 symbol does not degradethe detection performance of the AP1 symbol, and, conversely, the AP1symbol does not degrade the detection performance of the P1 symbol.Additionally, the detection performance of the P1 symbol is almostidentical to the detection performance of the AP1 symbol. Furthermore,by configuring the symbols so that the P1 symbol and the AP1 symbol havesimilar symbol structures, the complexity level of the receiver may bereduced.

At this point, the P1 symbol and the AP1 symbol may be transmittedconsecutively, or each of the symbols may be allocated to differentpositions within the signal frame and may then be transmitted. And, incase the P1 symbol and AP1 symbol are each allocated to a differentposition within the signal frame, so as to be transmitted, a high timediversity effect may be gained with respect to the preamble symbol.According to the embodiment of the present invention, the P1 symbol andthe AP1 symbol are consecutively transmitted.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram showing a broadcast signaltransmitting apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

In the present invention, the broadcast signal transmitting apparatusmay be referred to as a broadcast signal transmitter or a transmitter.

As shown in FIG. 6, the broadcast signal transmitting apparatus mayinclude an input pre-processor 100000, an input processor 100100, a BICMmodule 100200, a frame builder 100300, and an OFDM generator 100400.Herein, the BICM module 100200 is also referred to as a BICM encoder.

The input stream may include at least one of a TS stream, an internetprotocol (IP) stream, and a GSE (General Stream Encapsulation) stream(or also referred to as a GS stream).

The input pre-processor 100000 may receive at least one the TS stream,the IP stream, and the GS stream, so as to generate at least one or morePLPs in service units (or service component units) in order to providerobustness.

The input processor 100100 generates a BB frame including at least oneor more of the PLPs generated from the input pre-processor 100000. Incase the input processor 100100 receives a PLP corresponding to aservice, the input processor 100100 may categorize the received PLP asPLPs corresponding to the service components and may, then, generate theBB frame.

The BICM module 100200 adds redundancy to the output of the inputprocessor 100100, so that any error occurring over the transmissionchannel can be corrected, and then the BICM module 100200 performsinterleaving.

The frame builder 100300 maps the plurality of PLPs to the transmissionframe is cell units, so as to complete the transmission frame (or signalframe) structure.

The OFDM generator 100400 performs OFDM modulation on the input data, soas to generate a baseband signal that can be transmitted to the antenna.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method for transmitting an IP-basedbroadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 7 illustrates a method for inputting an IPstream in an IP packet unit, sorting (or categorizing) the input IPstream with respect to each component, and transmitting the sorted (orcategorized) IP stream in component PLP units.

In order to do so, IP packets including IP service information arecreated (or generated) (S100601). The IP service information may includean NIT, which signals network information, and may include an INT, whichincludes a listed IP address. The IP service information may correspondto a binary type, and FLUTE encoding or RTP encoding may be omitted. TheIP service information is transmitted to a common PLP.

After creating (or generating) bootstrap information for initiation,meta data for service guide, and data for data services (S100602), thecreated information and data are encoded by using a FLUTE session,thereby being outputted in an IP packet format (S100603). Thereafter,the audio/video (A/V) components are sorted (or differentiated) basedupon the RTP media type (S100604), then each of the differentiated (orsorted) components is encoded by using a FLUTE session or an RTPsession, thereby being outputted in an IP packet format (S100605).

The process steps S100601-S100605 may be performed by the inputpre-processor 100000, or may be performed in another block (not shown)and then delivered to the input pre-processor 100000.

The input processor 100100 may create PLPs by directly using IP packetsthat are FLUTE encoded or RTP encoded, or by directly using IP packetsbypassing the FLUTE encoding or RTP encoding processes (S100606). Morespecifically, by omitting the GSE encapsulating process, the overheadmay be reduced.

Subsequently, the input processor 100100 slices each IP stream into apredetermined number of bit units, so as to map the sliced bit units toa BB frame payload, and, then, the input processor 100100 inserts a BBheader to the BB frame payload, so as to generate a BB frame (S100607).

Moreover, the input processor 100100 performs scheduling in order to mapmultiple PLPs to the transmission frame, and then the input processor100100 performs scrambling on the data (i.e., bit stream) within the BBframe (S100505).

The BICM module 100200 adds redundancy to the output of the inputprocessor 100100, so that any error occurring within the transmissionchannel can be corrected, and then, the BICM module 100200 performsinterleaving (S100609).

The frame builder 100300 maps the multiple PLPs being outputted from theBICM module 100200 to the transmission frame in cell units in accordancewith the scheduling information, thereby completing the transmissionframe (NGH frame) structure (S100610). The OFDM generator 100400performs OFDM modulation on the data within the transmission frame,thereby transmitting the OFDM-modulated data to the antenna (S100611).

The input pre-processor 100000 of FIG. 6 may categorize the datacorresponding to the service to each component, and, then, the inputpre-processor 100000 may perform data processing, so that the datacorresponding to each component can be transmitted to a separate PLP.

The broadcast signal transmitting apparatus according to the presentinvention may be transmitted to one or more services in PLP units.However, the components being included in one service may be separatedand transmitted in PLP units. In this case, the broadcast signalreceiving apparatus may identify and process the PLPs including eachcomponent, so as to be capable of providing a single service. In orderto do so, the input pre-processor 100000 according to the presentinvention processes data in component units.

Hereinafter, the input pre-processor processing data having an IP streamformat will hereinafter be described in detail.

In case of an IP stream, unlike the description presented above, thedata corresponding to the component may be divided in IP packet units.And, the PSI/SI included in the TS may correspond to serviceinformation, and the IP service information may include ESG (ElectronicService Guide; ESG) information, provider information, bootstrapinformation, and so on. The ESG information may include IP addressinformation, port number information, and so on of the service componentand it may be referred to as meta data. According to the embodiment ofthe present invention, the IP stream may be inputted/outputted in GSE(Generic Stream Encapsulation) stream units.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram showing an input pre-processoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The input pre-processor 100000 of FIG. 8 includes a UDP/IP filter106010, an IP service controller 106020, an IP service informationdecoder 106030, an IP service information modifying/generating module106040, an IP stream merger 106050, GSE encapsulating modules 106060,106080, 106100, 106120, component mergers 106070, 106090, 106110, and aGSE decapsulating module 106130.

The input pre-processor 100000 of FIG. 8 receives a GSE stream or IPstream and differentiates the data included in the received stream foreach component, thereby outputting the differentiated data to adifferent PLP. At this point, a PLP including IP service information maybe referred to as a common PLP, and the common PLP may also be referredto as L2 signaling information or L2 information/data. The L1 signalinginformation may also be referred to as L1 information.

In the present invention, the GSE stream is inputted to the GSEdecapsulation module 106130, and the IP stream is inputted to the UDP/IPfilter 106010. The GSE decapsulation module 106130 performs GSEdecapsulation on the GSE stream, so as to extract an IP stream, therebyoutputting the extracted IP stream to the UDP/IP filter 106010.

The UDP/IP filter 106010 may use a UDP port number and an IP address,and so on, so as to perform filtering on the IP packets, which areincluded in the IP stream, for each component, thereby outputting thefiltered IP packets. Since a UDP port number and an IP address areassigned (or allocated) to each of the IP packets for each component,which are included in the IP stream, the UDP/IP filter 106010 may usethe UDP port number and IP address so as to identify the IP packetcorresponding to each component, thereby outputting each of theidentified IP packets to a separate PLP path. Hereinafter, such UDP portnumber and IP address may also be collectively referred to as an addressor address information.

However, since a UDP port number and an IP address should be known inorder to perform such filtering process, the UDP/IP filter 106010 firstfilters the IP service information included in the IP stream. Then, theIP service information decoder 106030 decodes the IP serviceinformation, which is filtered by the UDP/IP filter 106010, so as toacquire address information. At this point, the address information maybe acquired from the ESG information among the IP service information.Additionally, the IP service controller 106020 may use the addressinformation, which is acquired from the IP service information decoder106030, so as to control the UDP/IP filter 106010 and to filter the IPpacket corresponding to a desired component for each address, therebyoutputting the filtered IP packet. Since the IP service information,which is included in the IP stream, is transmitted to a predeterminedaddress, an immediate filtering process may be performed without anyseparate settings of the UDP/IP filter 106010.

The UDP/IP filter 106010 first filters the IP packets included in the IPstream for each component and then outputs the filters IP packets to arespective component merger through each PLP path. For example, IPpackets corresponding to the video component are outputted to thecomponent merger 106070, IP packets corresponding to the audio componentare outputted to the component merger 106090, and IP packetscorresponding to the data component are outputted to the componentmerger 106110. The component mergers 106070, 106090, 106110 merge the IPpackets of the corresponding component. If the stream being inputted tothe input pre-processor corresponds to a stream having a GSE format, theoutput of the component mergers 106070, 106090, 106110 is outputted as aGSE stream, after being GSE encapsulated by each GSE encapsulatingmodule. And, if the corresponding stream has an IP format, the GSEencapsulating process may be omitted.

When configuring the PLP for each component as described above, thereceiver may not be capable of searching all of the data correspondingto a single service, even when the channel is scanned. Morespecifically, unlike the method of configuring a PLP for each serviceand identifying the configured PLP as IP service information, since thePLP is configured for each component configuring a service, a componentPLP that does not include any IP service information may exist in thepresent invention. Therefore, in the present invention, serviceconfiguration information is added to the IP service information so thatthe component PLPs corresponding to a service can be located and found.

The IP service information modifying/generating module 106040 may modifyor generate IP service information that should be modified or added,such as ESG information, service provider information, bootstrapinformation, and so on and may, then, output the modified or generatedIP service information. For example, service configuration informationconfiguring a PLP for each component may be signaled to the ESGinformation.

The IP stream merger 106050 merges IP service informationmodified/generated by the IP service information modifying/generatingmodule 106040 and IP service information, such as supplementalinformation, which does not require any modification, thereby outputtingthe merged IP service information to a common PLP path.

As shown in FIG. 8, the input pre-processor may receive an IP stream (orGSE stream) and may output data including IP service information to acommon PLP path and may output data corresponding to each component to acomponent PLP path. Accordingly, as described above, the datacorresponding to each PLP path may also be referred to as PLP data orPLP.

The input pre-processor may signal information on the components, whichare configured as described above, to the L1 signaling information, sothat components can be extracted in PLP units in accordance with thereceiver type. More specifically, when a service type is selected inaccordance with the receiver, the receiver shall process the componentscorresponding to the selected service. In the present invention, since aPLP is configured for each component, the information on such PLPconfiguration is signaled to the L1 signaling information, therebyallowing the receiver to extract the components corresponding to theselected service and to process the extracted components. Accordingly,the input pre-processor may generate information on the PLPconfiguration, so as to perform control operations enabling thegenerated information to be included in the L1 signaling information.

(a) to (c) of FIG. 9 illustrate an example of configuring a PLP incomponent units in an input pre-processor according to the presentinvention.

In (a) of FIG. 9, an IP stream 107010 being configured of IP packetsindicates an IP stream being inputted to the UDP/IP filter 106010 of theinput pre-processor shown in FIG. 8. And, each IP packet includes one ofaudio component data, video component data, data component data, and IPservice information component data.

The input pre-processor of FIG. 9 performs the above-describedpre-processing procedure on the IP packets included in the IP stream107010, so as to differentiate the pre-processed IP packets for eachcomponent, thereby outputting each of the differentiated IP packetsthrough a different PLP path.

For example, in (b) of FIG. 14, IP packets including NIT, INT,bootstrap, ESG information are outputted through a common PLP path,thereby configuring a common IP (107020, IP_Common), and IP packetsincluding data of the video component are outputted through a videocomponent PLP path, thereby configuring a video component IP (107030,IP_Video). Additionally, the IP packets including data of the audiocomponent are outputted through an audio component PLP path, therebyconfiguring an audio component IP (107040, IP_Audio), and the IP packetsincluding data of the data component are outputted through a datacomponent PLP path, thereby configuring a data component IP (107050,IP_Data). In another example, IP packets including data of 2 or morecomponents may be outputted through a single PLP path, so as toconfigure a single IP. In yet another example, IP packets including dataof a specific component respective to multiple services may be outputtedthrough a single PLP path, so as to configure a single IP.

At this point, unlike in the TS-based broadcasting, in the IP-basedbroadcasting, a PLP is directly configured without performing nullpacket inserting or deleting processes. This is because a null packet isnot required in the IP stream.

For simplicity in the description of the present invention, a common IPstream 107020 may be referred to as a common PLP (or PLP data), and avideo component IP stream 107030 may be referred to as a video componentPLP (or PLP data) like (c) of FIG. 9. Additionally, an audio componentIP stream 107040 may be referred to as an audio component PLP (or PLPdata), and a data component IP stream 107050 may be referred to as adata component PLP (or PLP data).

Based upon the characteristics of the IP streams, the IP streams of eachPLP path of FIG. 9 are not required to maintain the same synchronizationor order.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart showing a pre-processing method of abroadcast signal according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 shows a processing method of the above-described inputpre-processor 100000 of FIG. 8, so that an IP stream can be divided incomponent units, and so that each set of component unit data can beoutputted to a different PLP path.

In case the input stream corresponds to a GSE stream, the inputpre-processor 100000 may use the GSE decapsulating module 106130, so asto decapsulate the GSE stream to an IP stream (S109010). In case theinput stream corresponds to an IP stream, this process step (S109010)may be omitted.

The input pre-processor 100000 may use the UDP/IP filter 106010, so asto filter the ESG information of the input IP stream (S109020). Sincethe ESG information is transmitted from an IP stream to a predeterminedaddress, a filtering procedure may be performed without any separatefilter set-up.

The input pre-processor 100000 may use the IP service informationdecoder 106030, so as to decode the ESG information, which is filteredby the UDP/IP filter 106010 and to acquire address informationrespective to each component included in the IP stream (S109030).Thereafter, the IP service controller 106020 may set up the UDP/IPfilter 106010 by using the address information, which is acquired instep (S109030), so as to filter data for each component and to outputthe filtered data (S109040).

The input pre-processor 100000 performs another operation in accordancewith the component type of the corresponding data (S109050).

In case the component type corresponds to IP service information, i.e.,when the component type corresponds to common PLP data, the inputpre-processor 100000 may determine whether or not the IP serviceinformation requires modification (S109060). Thereafter, whenmodification is required, the corresponding IP service information (ESGinformation, bootstrap information, provider information, and so on) maybe generated or modified (S109070). Then, by using the IP stream merger106050, IP service information that are to be included in the data,which are transmitted to the common PLP, are merged (S109090).

In case the component type does not correspond to IP serviceinformation, i.e., in case the component type corresponds to componentPLP data, the input pre-processor 100000 sets up a physical parameterbased upon the component type, thereby enabling the physical parameterto be signaled to the L1 signaling information (S109080). In otherwords, the input pre-processor 100000 may signal information on acomponent PLP structure to the L1 signaling information, so that thereceiver can process the component PLP corresponding to the service inaccordance with the component structure of the present invention.

In case the output data format corresponds to a GSE stream, the inputpre-processor 100000 performs GSE encapsulation on the processed PLPdata in accordance with the component type (S109100). In case the outputdata format corresponds to an IP GSE stream, this step may also beomitted. Each set of the component PLP data may be outputted to adifferent PLP path (S109110).

The output of the input pre-processor 100000 is outputted to the inputprocessor 100100.

In the description of the present invention, TS or IP or GSE streams maybe converted to n+1 number of streams that can be independentlyprocessed through the input pre-processor 100000 or the input processor100100. At this point, the stream that is to be independently processedmay correspond to a complete (or whole) TS stream including a pluralityof service components, and may also correspond to a TS stream of aminimum unit including only one service component (e.g., video or audio,and so on). Similarly, the stream that is to be independently processedmay correspond to a complete (or whole) GSE stream including a pluralityof service components or a GSE stream including only one servicecomponent. Furthermore, the stream that is to be independently processedmay also correspond to a complete (or whole) IP stream including aplurality of service components or an IP stream including only oneservice component.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the MISO method may beindependently applied for each set of PLP data, and the MIMO method mayalso be applied.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the BICM module100200 may perform MIMO encoding on MIMO PLP data to be transmitted inMIMO and may perform MISO encoding on MISO PLP data to be transmitted inMISO. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the BICMmodule 100200 may perform MIMO encoding on MIMO PLP data to betransmitted in MIMO and the OFDM generator 10040 may perform MISOencoding on MISO PLP data to be transmitted in MISO.

Specifically, a broadcast signal transmitter and receiver for performingMISO processing and MIMO processing on a plurality of signalstransmitted and received through a plurality of antennas may beconsidered in four embodiments. The embodiments are differentiatedaccording to whether MISO/MIMO processing is performed on a PLP basisand the position of MISO/MIMO processing. Each embodiment will bedescribed below in brief.

A first embodiment relates to a broadcast signal transmitter forperforming MISO processing and MIMO processing independently on an inputPLP data basis during BCIM encoding and a broadcast signal receivercorresponding to the broadcast signal transmitter.

A second embodiment relates to another broadcast signal transmitter forperforming MISO processing and MIMO processing independently on an inputPLP data basis during BCIM encoding and a broadcast signal receivercorresponding to the broadcast signal transmitter.

A third embodiment relates to a broadcast signal transmitter forperforming MISO processing and MIMO processing on PLP data mapped to aframe during OFDM generation and a broadcast signal receivercorresponding to the broadcast signal transmitter.

A fourth embodiment relates to a broadcast signal transmitter forperforming MIMO processing independently on MIMO PLP data to beMIMO-processed among input PLP data during BICM encoding and performingMISO processing on MISO PLP data and L1-signaling information to beMISO-processed during OFDM generation and a broadcast signal receivercorresponding to the broadcast signal transmitter.

To be more specific, according to the first embodiment, the BICM module100200 of the broadcast signal transmitter may perform MISO encoding orMIMO encoding on input PLP data after constellation mapping, cellinterleaving, and time interleaving. A BICM decoder 138300 of thebroadcast signal receiver may perform the BICM encoding of the broadcastsignal transmitter in a reverse order.

According to the second embodiment, the BICM module 100200 of thebroadcast signal transmitter may perform MISO encoding or MIMO encodingon each input PLP data after constellation mapping and then perform cellinterleaving and time interleaving on the encoded PLP data. The BICMdecoder 138300 of the broadcast signal receiver may perform the BICMencoding of the broadcast signal transmitter in a reverse order.

According to the third embodiment, the OFDM generator 100400 of thebroadcast signal transmitter may perform MISO encoding or MIMO encodingon PLP data received from the frame builder 100300. An OFDM demodulator138100 of the broadcast signal receiver may perform the operation of theOFDM generator 100400 of the broadcast signal transmitter in a reverseorder.

According to the fourth embodiment, the BICM module 100200 of thebroadcast signal transmitter may perform MIMO encoding on MIMO PLP datato be MIMO-processed after time interleaving or constellation mapping.The OFDM generator 10040 may perform MISO encoding on MISO PLP data andL1-signaling information to be MISO-processed, mapped to a frame andperform MIMO encoding on MIMO PLP data. The BICM decoder 138300 and theOFDM demodulator 138100 of the broadcast signal receiver may perform theoperations of the BICM module 100200 and the OFDM generator 100400 ofthe broadcast signal transmitter in a reverse order.

The following description centers on the BCIM module 100200 of thebroadcast signal transmitter according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

The broadcast signal transmitter and receiver of the present inventionmay perform MISO processing and MIMO processing on a plurality ofsignals transmitted and received through a plurality of antennas.Hereinafter, a broadcast signal transmitter and receiver for processingtwo signals transmitted and received through two antennas will bedescribed.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a BICM module according to an embodimentof the present invention.

The BICM module illustrated in FIG. 11 is the afore-described BICMmodule according to the first embodiment. The BICM module may performbit interleaving and error-correction encoding on a plurality ofinput-processed PLP data, input-processed L1-presignaling information,and input-processed L1-post signaling information.

For the operation, the BICM encoder illustrated in FIG. 11 may apply aMISO scheme or a MIMO scheme to every PLP data independently. That is,the BICM encoder of FIG. 11 may include a first BICM encoding block604100 for processing PLP data in MISO, a second BICM encoding block604200 for processing PLP data in MIMO, and a third BICM encoding block604300 for processing signaling information in MISO. The third BICMencoding block 604300 may process the signaling information in MIMO.However, since the signaling information includes information requiredfor the receiver to recover PLP data included in a transmission frame,the signaling information requires stronger transmission-receptionrobustness than the PLP data. Accordingly, the signaling information isprocessed in MISO in an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the data processing method of each block will be described.

The first BICM encoding block 604100 includes an FEC (Forward ErrorCorrection) encoder 604110, a bit interleaver 604120, a first demux604130, a constellation mapper 604140, a cell interleaver 604150, a timeinterleaver 604160, and an MISO encoder 604170.

The FEC encoder 604110 adds a redundancy to an input bit stream, so thatthe receiver can perform correction on an error occurring on thetransmission channel with respect to input processed PLP data and may,then, perform bit stream encoding at a coding rate, such as 1/4, 1/3,2/5. For example, the FEC encoder 604110 may use a BCH(Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquengham)/LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code, so asto add redundancy for error correction and to perform encoding.

The bit interleaver 604120 may perform bit interleaving in a single FECblock unit on the PLP data, which are processed with FEC encoding, sothat the error can have robustness against a burst error, which mayoccur during transmission. In this case, the bit interleaver 604120 mayperform bit interleaving by using two FEC block units. And, as describedabove, when bit interleaving is performed by using two FEC block units,cells forming a pair in the frame builder, which will be described lateron, may each be generated from a different FEC block. Therefore, thebroadcast signal receiver may ensure diversity so as to enhance thereceiving performance.

The first demux 604130 performs demultiplexing in a single FEC blockunit. In this case, the first demux 604130 may perform demultiplexing byusing two FEC blocks. As described above, when demultiplexing isperformed by using two FEC blocks, the cells configuring a pair in theframe builder, may each be generated from a different FEC block.Therefore, the receiver may ensure diversity, so as to gain a moreenhanced receiving performance.

The constellation mapper 604140 maps the demultiplexed bit unit PLP datato the constellation. In this case, the constellation mapper 604140 mayrotate the constellation by a predetermined angle in accordance with themodulation type. The rotated constellations may be expressed as anI-phase (In-phase) element and a Q-phase (Quadrature-phase) element, andthe constellation mapper 604140 may delay only the Q-phase element by anarbitrary value. Thereafter, the constellation mapper 604140 may use theIn-phase element and the delayed Q-phase element, so as to remap thedemultiplexed PLP data to a new constellation.

The cell interleaver 604150 may perform interleaving in cell units onthe PLP data mapped or remapped to the constellation, and the timeinterleaver 604160 may perform interleaving on the cell-interleaved PLPdata in time units, so as to output the time-interleaved PLP data to theframe builder. In this case, the time interleaver 604160 may performinterleaving by using 2 FEC blocks. By performing this procedure, sincethe cells configuring a pair in the frame builder, which will bedescribed later on, may each be generated from a different FEC block,the receiver may ensure diversity so as to enhance the receivingperformance.

An MISO encoder 604170 may perform MISO encoding on the time-interleavedPLP data using an MISO encoding matrix and output MISO PLP data in twopaths STX_k and STX_k+1. As a consequence, transmit diversity can beachieved. In an embodiment of an MISO encoding method according to thepresent invention, an Orthogonal Space-Time Block Code(OSTBC)/OrthogonalSpace Frequency Block Code/Alamouti code (OSFBC) maybe included.

The second BICM encoding block 604200 includes an FEC encoder 604210, abit interleaver 604220, a second demux 604230, a first constellationmapper 604240-1 and a second constellation mapper 604240-2, a first cellinterleaver 604250-1, a second cell interleaver 604250-2, a first timeinterleaver 614260-1, a second time interleaver 614260-2, and an MIMOencoder 604270.

The FEC encoder 604210 and the bit interleaver 604510 perform the samefunctions as the FEC encoder 604110 and the bit interleaver 604120 ofthe MISO method.

The second demux 604230 may perform the same functions as the firstdemux 604130 of the MISO method and may additionally performdemultiplexing on the PLP data, so as to output the demultiplexed PLPdata through 2 input paths, which are required for the MIMOtransmission. In this case, the transmission characteristics of the databeing transmitted through each input path may be different from oneanother. Accordingly, the second demux may assign the bit-interleavedPLP data to each input path at random.

The first constellation mapper 604240-1 and the second constellationmapper 604240-2 may perform the same functions as the constellationmapper 604140 of the MISO method.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first cellinterleaver 604250-1 and the second cell interleaver 604250-2 mayperform cell interleaving only on the PLP data corresponding to half thesize of an FEC block, among the PLP data inputted through each path.Accordingly, the cell interleaving process performed by the first cellinterleaver 604250-1 and the second cell interleaver 604250-2 may havethe same effect as the interleaving procedure performed by the cellinterleaver 604140 of the MISO method. Additionally, the first cellinterleaver 604250-1 and the second cell interleaver 604250-2 areadvantageous in that additional memory are not assigned (or allocated)to the first cell interleaver 604250-1 and the second cell interleaver604250-2, in order to process the data of multiple paths, and that cellinterleaving may be performed by using the memory settings of the cellinterleaver 604140.

The first time interleaver 614260-1 and the second time interleaver614260-1 perform the same functions as the time interleaver 604160 ofthe MISO method. Also, the first time interleaver 614260-1 and thesecond time interleaver 614260-2 may perform time interleaving on thePLP data being inputted through each path by using the same method, ormay perform time interleaving by using different methods.

An MISO encoder 604270 may perform MIMO encoding on the 2-pathtime-interleaved PLP data using an MIMO encoding matrix and output MIMOPLP data in two paths STX_m and STX_m+1. The MIMO encoding matrixaccording to the present invention may include spatial multiplexing, aGolden Code (GC), a full-rate full diversity code, a linear dispersioncode, etc.

L1-signaling information may include L1-presignaling information andL1-post signaling information. The MISO scheme may be appliedindependently to each of the L1-presignaling information and the L1-postsignaling information.

Accordingly, the third BICM encoding block 604300 may include a firstencoding block 604400 for processing L1-pre-signaling information and asecond encoding block 604500 for processing L1-post-signalinginformation.

The first encoding block 604400 may include an FEC encoder 604410, aconstellation mapper 604420, a cell interleaver 604430, a timeinterleaver 604440, and an MISO encoder 604450. The second encodingblock 604500 may include an FEC encoder 604510, a bit interleaver604520, a demux 604530, a constellation mapper 604540, a cellinterleaver 604550, a time interleaver 604560, and an MISO encoder604570.

The L1-presignaling information may include information needed to decodethe L1-post signaling information, and the L1-post signaling informationmay include information needed for the receiver to recover datatransmitted from the transmitter.

That is, the receiver may need to decode the L1-presignaling informationfast and accurately in order to decode the L1-signaling information anddata. Therefore, the L1-presignaling information is not subject to bitinterleaving and demultiplexing so that the receiver may fast decode theL1-presignaling information in an embodiment of the present invention.

Each block of the first and second encoding blocks 604400 and 604500 isthe same as its counter part of the first BICM encoding block 604100 interms of function and thus its detailed description will not be providedherein.

Eventually, the first encoding block 604400 for processing theL1-presignaling information may perform MISO encoding on theL1-presignaling information and thus output the L1-presignaling data intwo paths STX_pre and STX_pre+1. The second encoding block 604500 forprocessing the L1-post signaling information may perform MISO encodingon the L1-post signaling information and thus output the L1-postsignaling data in two paths STX_post and STX_post+1.

For the convenience' sake of description, the paths STX_k, STX_m,STX_pre, and STX_post are collectively referred to as a first path andthe paths STX_k+1, STX_m+1, STX_pre+1, and STX_post+1 are collectivelyreferred to as a second path in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a BICM module according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

The BICM module illustrated in FIG. 12 is the afore-described BICMmodule according to the second embodiment. The BICM module may performbit interleaving and error-correction encoding on a plurality ofinput-processed PLP data, input-processed L1-presignaling information,and input-processed L1-post signaling information.

The BICM encoder according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention may apply the MISO scheme or the MIMO scheme independently toevery PLP data.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the BICM encoder may include a first BICMencoding block 607100 for processing PLP data in MISO, a second BICMencoding block 607200 for processing PLP data in MIMO, and a third BICMencoding block 607300 for processing signaling information in MISO.

The BICM encoding blocks of FIG. 12 according to the second embodimentoperate in the same manner as the BICM encoding blocks of FIG. 11according to the first embodiment and thus their detailed description isnot provided herein. However, the BICM encoding blocks according to thesecond embodiment are different from the BICM encoding blocks accordingto the first embodiment in that MISO encoders 607120, 607320-1, and607320-2 and an MIMO encoder 607220 of the BICM encoding blocks arepositioned at the rear ends of constellation mappers 607110, 607210-1,607210-2, 607310-1, and 607310-2.

The PLP data or the signaling data may be processed on a symbol basisafter constellation mapping. Therefore, cell interleavers, timeinterleaves, MISO encoders, and MIMO encoders included in the BICMencoding blocks illustrated in FIG. 11 according to the first embodimentor the BICM encoding blocks illustrated in FIG. 12 according to thesecond embodiment may process input data on a symbol basis. Thebroadcast signal receiver may perform BICM decoding on received data byreversely performing the BICM encoding of the BICM encoding blocksaccording to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. In addition,MISO decoders, an MIMO decoder, time interleavers, and celldeinterleavers of the broadcast signal receiver may process receiveddata on a symbol basis.

However, the BICM decoder of the broadcast signal receiver according tothe first embodiment first performs MISO decoding or MIMO decoding oneach set of data and, then, outputs the data processed with MISOdecoding or MIMO decoding in bit units. At this point, the data beingoutputted from the MISO decoder or the MIMO decoder correspond tobit-unit likelihood (or probability) information. Accordingly,hereinafter, the BICM decoder of the broadcast signal receiver mayperform time deinterleaving and cell deinterleaving procedures. However,since data that are outputted in bit units are being inputted,information of symbol-unit data is also required. Therefore, since thebroadcast signal receiver is required to store information on symbolmapping of the input bits, which is required for the deinterleavingprocedures, the complexity level in the memory of the broadcast signalreceiver may be increased.

In the BICM encoder of the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 12, MISOencoders 607100, 607300, 607400 and MIMO encoder 607200 are located atthe end of the constellation mapper. Therefore, the BICM decoder of thebroadcast signal receiver according to the second embodiment may performMISO/MIMO decoding after performing both time deinterleaving and celldeinterleaving in symbol units. Accordingly, the complexity level of thememory included in the broadcast signal receiver of the first embodimentmay be decreased as compared to the broadcast signal receiver of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a frame builder according to an embodimentof the present invention.

The frame builder illustrated in FIG. 13 is applicable to both the firstand second embodiments and the following description is given in thecontext of the first embodiment.

As described before, the first BICM encoding block 604100 may outputMISO PLP data in the two paths STX_k and STX_k+1 and the second BICMencoding block 604200 may output MIMO PLP data in the two paths STX_mand STX_m+1. The third BICM encoding block 604300 may output each ofL1-presignaling information and L1-post signaling information in the twopaths STXpre and STX_pre+1 or STXpost and STX_post+1.

Each data is input to the frame builder. In this case, the frame buildermay receive BICM encoder output data in the first path being the pathsSTX_0 to STX_post and in the second path being the paths STX_0+1 toSTX_post+1, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The data received through thefirst path may be transmitted through a first antenna Tx_1 and the datareceived through the second path may be transmitted through a secondantenna Tx_2.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the frame builder according to the firstembodiment of the present invention may include a first frame buildingblock 605100 for processing the data received through the first path anda second frame building block 605200 for processing the data receivedthrough the second path. The first frame building block 605100 mayinclude a first delay compensator 605110, a first pair-wise cell mapper605120, and a first pair-wise frequency interleaver 605130. The secondframe building block 605200 may include a second delay compensator605210, a second pair-wise cell mapper 605220, and a second pair-wisefrequency interleaver 605230.

The first pair-wise cell mapper 605120 and the first pair-wise frequencyinterleaver 605130 and the second pair-wise cell mapper 605220 and thesecond pair-wise frequency interleaver 605230 may be identicallyoperated with respect to each of the first path and the second path andmay also be independently operated.

Hereinafter, the data processing method of the blocks included in eachof the first frame building block 605100 and the second frame buildingblock 605200 will be described in detail.

The first delay compensator 605110 and the second delay compensator605210 compensates for both the delay by one transmission frame appliedto the L1-pre-signaling data or L1-post-signaling data and the delaycaused by the encoding process of the BICM module. The L1 signalinginformation may include the information on the current transmissionframe as well as the information on the next transmission frame.Therefore, during the above-described input processing procedure, the L1signaling information is delayed by one frame as compared to the PLPdata, which are currently being inputted. By performing this procedure,one transmission frame may be capable of transmitting the L1 signalinginformation including information on the current transmission frame andinformation on the next transmission frame.

The first pair-wise cell mapper 605120 and the second pair-wise cellmapper 605220 map respectively map the symbol unit PLP data and the L1signaling data, which are inputted through each path, in cell units tothe subcarrier of the OFDM symbol within the transmission frame.

In this case, the PLP data being inputted through each path may includecommon PLP data and MISO-MIMO-encoded PLP data. And, a sub-sliceprocessor modules 605120-12 may perform sub-slicing on the PLP datacells and map the sub-sliced PLP data cells to the transmission frame,so as to gain diversity.

Additionally, the first pair-wise cell mapper 605120 and the secondpair-wise cell mapper 605220 may pair 2 consecutive input cells and maymap the paired cells to the transmission frame.

In order to increase the MISO signal recovery performance of thereceiver, when performing MISO encoding, the MISO transmission channelis required to ensure coherence between the channels. Accordingly, inorder to ensure coherence between the channels, the first pair-wise cellmapper 605120 and the second pair-wise cell mapper 605220 mayrespectively pair cells, which are generated from the same PLP data, andmay map the paired cells to the subcarrier of the OFDM modulation,thereby maximizing the coherence between the channels.

Moreover, as described above, when bit interleaving or time interleavingis performed by the bit interleaver 604120 and the time interleaver604160 by using two FEC blocks, since the two input cells that aregrouped to form a pair may be generated from different FEC blocks, thereceiver may be capable of ensuring diversity and may gain highreception performance. The first pair-wise frequency interleaver 605130and the second pair-wise frequency interleaver 605230 may performfrequency interleaving in cell units on the data being inputted througheach path. Then, the first pair-wise frequency interleaver 605130 andthe second pair-wise frequency interleaver 605230 may output thefrequency interleaved data to the OFDM generator through each path.

In this case, the first pair-wise frequency interleaver 605130 and thesecond pair-wise frequency interleaver 605230 may group 2 consecutiveinput cells in pairs and may process each cell pair as a singleinterleaving unit, thereby performing frequency interleaving. This isfor maximizing the coherence between the channels.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram showing a broadcast signal receivingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus maybe referred to as a broadcast signal receiver or a receiver.

The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to the presentinvention may include an OFDM demodulator 138100, a frame demapper138200, a BICM decoder 138300, and an output processor 138400. The OFDMdemodulator 138100, the frame demapper 138200, the BICM decoder 138300,and the output processor 138400 illustrated in FIG. 14 may perform theoperations of the OFDM generator 10040, the frame builder 100300, theBICM module 100200, and the input-preprocessor 100100 in a reverseorder.

The frame demapper 138200 may also be referred to as a frame parser. TheOFDM demodulator 138100 converts time domain signals to frequency domainsignals. Herein, the time domain signals correspond to signals beingreceived through multiple reception antennae and then being converted todigital signals. Among the signals being converted to frequency domainsignals, the frame demapper 138200 outputs the PLPs designated torequired services. The BICM decider 138300 corrects errors that occurdue to the transmission channel, and the output processor 138300performs procedures required for generating an output TS or IP or GSstream.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a frame demapper according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The frame demapper illustrated in FIG. 15 is applicable to both theafore-described first and second embodiments. The frame demapper mayperform the operation of the frame builder illustrated in FIG. 13 in areverse order. The following description will be given in the context ofthe first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 15, the frame demapper according to the firstembodiment of the present invention may include a first frame demappingblock 611100 for processing data received through the first path and asecond frame demapping block 611200 for processing data received throughthe second path. The first frame demapping block 611100 may include afirst pair-wise frequency deinterleaver 611110 and a first pair-wisecell demapper 611120, and the second frame demapping block 611200 mayinclude a second pair-wise frequency deinterleaver 611210 and a secondpair-wise cell demapper 611220.

The first pair-wise frequency deinterleaver 611110 and the firstpair-wise cell demapper 611120 may operate independently in the samemanner with respect to the first path as the second pair-wise frequencydeinterleaver 611210 and the second pair-wise cell demapper 611220operate with respect to the second path.

Methods for processing data in blocks included in the first and secondframe demapping blocks 611100 and 611200 will be described below.

The first and second pair-wise frequency deinterleavers 611110 and611210 may deinterleave the data received through the first and secondpaths on a cell basis in the frequency domain. In this case, the firstand second pair-wise frequency deinterleavers 611110 and 611210 mayperform frequency deinterleaving by pairing two consecutive cells andusing the pair as one deinterleaving unit. The deinterleaving is thereverse operation of the interleaving performed in the transmitter. Thefrequency-deinterleaved data is recovered in the original data order andthen output.

The first and second pair-wise cell demappers 611120 and 611220 mayextract common PLP data, PLP data, and L1-signaling information on acell basis from the deinterleaved data. The extracted PLP data mayinclude MISO PLP data to be processed in MISO and MIMO PLP data to beprocessed in MIMO. The extracted L1-signaling data may includeinformation about a current transmission frame and the followingtransmission frame. In addition, if the transmitter performs subslicingon the PLP data, the first and second pair-wise cell demappers 611120and 611220 may generate one stream by merging sliced PLP data.

The first and second pair-wise cell demappers 611120 and 611220 mayextract two consecutive cells as a pair.

The extracted data, that is, data output through the first path may beinput to the BICM decoder through paths SRx_0 to SRx_post and dataoutput through the second path may be input to the BICM decoder throughpaths SRx_0+1 to SRx_post+1.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a BICM decoder according to an embodimentof the present invention.

The BICM decoder according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention may receive the data output through the first path from theframe demapper through the paths SRx_0 to SRxpost and may receive thedata output through the second path from the frame demapper through thepaths SRx_0+1 to SRxpost+1. Then the BICM decoder may perform BICMdecoding on the received data.

Further, the BICM decoder according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention may apply the MISO scheme or MIMO scheme dependentlyto the data received through each path.

That is, the BICM decoder of FIG. 13 may include a first BICM decodingblock 612100 for receiving MISO PLP data to be MISO-processed throughtwo paths SRx_k and SRx_k+1 and processing the MISO PLP data, a secondBICM decoding block 612200 for receiving MIMO PLP data to beMIMO-processed through two paths SRx_m and SRx_m+1 and processing theMIMO PLP data, and a third BICM decoding block 612300 for receivingL1-signaling data to be MISO-processed through four paths SRx_pre,SRx_pre+1, SRx_post, and SRx_post+1 and processing the L1-signalingdata.

The BICM decoder according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention may perform the operation of the BICM encoder of FIG. 11according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a reverseorder.

Now a description will be given of a method for processing data in eachblock.

The first BICM decoding block 612100 may include an MISO decoder 612110,a time deinterleaver 612120, a cell deinterleaver 612130, aconstellation demapper 612140, a first MUX 612150, a bit deinterleaver612160, and an FEC decoder 612170.

The MISO decoder 612110 may perform MISO decoding on MISO PLP data. TheMISO decoder 612110 of the present invention may perform 4 differentoperations. Each operation will hereinafter be described.

First of all, when the channel estimation modules 610800-1˜2 included inthe OFDM demodulator do not perform channel equalization, the MISOdecoder 612110 may apply a channel estimation effect on all referencepoints that can be transmitted, thereby being capable of calculating anLLR value. Accordingly, the same effect as channel equalization may begained.

Secondly, the MISO decoder 612110 may perform the following operationsin accordance with the operations of the constellation mapper, which isincluded in the BICM encoder of the broadcast signal transmitter. Whenthe constellation mapper, which is included in the BICM encoder of thebroadcast signal transmitter, rotates the constellation by apredetermined angle, and delays only the Q-phase element of theconstellation by an arbitrary value, the MISO decoder 612110 may delayonly the I-phase element of the constellation by an arbitrary value andmay calculate the 2D-LLR value based upon the constellation rotationangle.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when theconstellation mapper, which is included in the BICM encoder of thebroadcast signal transmitter, does not rotate the constellation, anddoes not delayed only the Q-phase element of the constellation by thearbitrary value, the MISO decoder 612110 may be capable of calculatingthe 2D-LLR value based upon a normal QAM.

Thirdly, the MISO decoder 612110 may select a decoding matrix, so thatan inverse process of the MISO encoder, which is included in the BICMencoder of the broadcast signal transmitter, can be performed inaccordance with the encoding matrix used by the MISO encoder. And, then,the MISO decoder 612110 may perform MISO decoding.

Finally, the MISO decoder 612110 may merge signals, which are receivedthrough 2 reception antennae. The signal merging method according to thepresent invention may include maximum ratio combining, equal gaincombining, selective combining, and so on. In this case, the MISOdecoder 612110 may maximize the SNR of the merged signal, so as to gaina diversity effect.

Additionally, the MISO decoder 612110 may perform MISO decoding on asignal, which is processed with signal merging. Then, after performingMISO decoding on the input of the two antennae, the MISO decoder 612110may merge the MISO decoded signals.

The time deinterleaver 612120 performs deinterleaving in a time domainon the MISO-decoded data so as to recover the data to the initialposition, and the cell deinterleaver 612130 may perform deinterleavingon the time-deinterleaved data in cell units.

The constellation demapper 612140 may perform the following functions inaccordance with the operations of the MISO decoder 612110.

First of all, in case the MISO decoder 612110 performs onlyMISO-decoding without directly outputting the LLR value, theconstellation demapper 612140 may calculate the LLR value. Morespecifically, a detailed description will hereinafter be made. Whenconstellation rotation and Q-phase element delay are performed by theconstellation demapper, which is included in the BICM encoder of thebroadcast signal transmitting apparatus, the constellation demapper612140 may first delay an I-phase element and may then calculate the LLRvalue. If the constellation demapper, which is included in the BICMencoder of the broadcast signal transmitting apparatus, does not performconstellation rotation and Q-phase element delay, the constellationdemapper 612140 may calculate an LLR value based upon a normal QAMstandard.

The method for calculating the LLR value may include a method forcalculating a 2-D LLR and a method for calculating a 1-D LLR value. Incase of calculating the 1-D LLR value, any one of the input to the firstpath and the input to the second path is performed, so as to reduce thecomplexity in the LLR calculation.

The first mux 612150 may recover the demapped data to a bit streamformat.

The bit deinterleaver 612160 performs deinterleaving on the inputted bitstream, and the FEC decoder 612170 performs FEC-decoding on the dataprocessed with deinterleaving, so as to perform error correction overthe transmission channel, thereby outputting the MISO PLP data.

The second BICM decoding block 612200 may include an MIMO decoder612210, a first time deinterleaver 612220-0 and a second timedeinterleaver 612220-1, a first cell deinterleaver 612230-0 and a secondcell deinterleaver 612230-1, a first constellation demapper 612240-0 anda second constellation demapper 612240-1, a second mux 612250, a bitdeinterleaver 612260, and an FEC decoder 612270.

The MIMO decoder 612210 may perform MIMO decoding on the MIMO PLP datareceived through the two paths SRx_m and SRx_m+1. The MIMO decoder612210 may perform the other operations except for the fourth operation,that is, signal combining among four operations of the MISO decoder612110 in the same manner as the MISO decoder 612110.

The first time deinterleaver 612220-0 and the second time deinterleaver612220-1 may perform deinterleaving in a time domain on the MIMO decodeddata in cell units, so as to recover data by the initial (or original)data order. In this case, the first cell deinterleaver 612230-0 and thesecond cell deinterleaver 612230-1 may perform cell deinterleaving onlyon the data corresponding to half the size of a cell included in an FECblock, among the data being inputted through each path. Eventually, thecell deinterleaving performed by the first cell deinterleaver 612230-0and the second cell deinterleaver 612230-1 may have the same effect asthe deinterleaving performed by the MISO type cell deinterleaver 612130by using one FEC block.

The first constellation demapper 612240-0, the second constellationdemapper 612240-1, the second mux 612250, the bit deinterleaver 612260,and the FEC decoder 612270 may perform the same functions as the MISOmethod.

The third BICM decoding block 612300 includes a first decoding block612400 for processing L1-pre-signaling data and a second decoding block612500 for processing L1-post-signaling data.

The first decoding block 612400 may include an MIMO decoder 612410, atime deinterleaver 612420, a cell deinterleaver 612430, a constellationdemapper 612440, and an FEC decoder 612450, and the second decodingblock 612500 may include an MIMO decoder 612510 a time deinterleaver612520, a cell deinterleaver 612530, a constellation demapper 612540, amux 612550, a bit deinterleaver 612560, and an FEC decoder 612570.

Hereinafter, since the functions of each block included in the firstdecoding block 612400 and the second decoding block 612500 are identicalto the respective blocks included in the first BICM decoding block612100, a detailed description of the same will be omitted.

Eventually, the first BICM decoding block 612100 may output theBICM-decoded MISO PLP data to the output processor, and the second BICMdecoding block 612200 may output the BICM-decoded MIMO PLP data to theoutput processor. Also, the first decoding block 612400 included in thethird BICM decoding block 612300 may perform MISO decoding onL1-pre-signaling data to output L1-pre-signaling information, and thesecond decoding block 612500 of the third BICM decoding block 612300 mayperform MISO decoding on L1-post-signaling data to output singleL1-post-signaling information.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram showing a BICM decoder according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

The BICM decoder according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention receives data SRx_0 to SRx_post output through the first pathfrom the frame demapper and data SRx_0+1 to SRxpost+1 output through thesecond path from the frame demapper. Furthermore, the BICM decoderaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention may applyindependently the MISO method or the MIMO method on the data beinginputted from each path.

That is, the BICM decoder of FIG. 17 includes a first BICM decodingblock 615100 receiving MISO PLP data to which the MISO method is appliedfrom 2 paths (SRx_k, SRx_k+1) and processing the received MISO PLP data,a second BICM decoding block 615200 receiving MIMO PLP data to which theMIMO method is applied from 2 paths (SRx_m, SRx_m+1) and processing thereceived MIMO PLP data, and a third BICM decoding block 615300 receivingL1 signaling data from 4 paths (SRx_pre, SRx_pre+1, SRx_post,SRx_post+1) and processing the received L1 signaling data.

Moreover, the third BICM decoding block 615300 may include a firstdecoding block 615400 for processing L1-pre-signaling data and a seconddecoding block 615500 for processing L1-post-signaling data.

In addition, the BICM decoder according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention may perform inverse operation processes of the BICMencoder according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 14.

The BICM decoding blocks of FIG. 17 according to the second embodimentoperate in the same manner as the BICM decoding blocks of FIG. 16according to the first embodiment and thus they will not be described indetail. However, the BICM decoder according to the second embodimentdiffers from the BICM decoder according to the first embodiment in thatMISO decoders 615110, 615410, and 615510 and an MIMO decoder 615210 aredisposed at the rear end of cell deinterleavers.

As described before with reference to FIG. 12, because the BICM decoderaccording to the second embodiment performs MISO/MIMO decoding afterperforming time deinterleaving and cell deinterleaving on a symbolbasis, the memory complexity of the broadcast signal receiver can bereduced.

Consequently, the first BICM decoding block 615100 may output theBICM-decoded MISO PLP data to the output processor and the second BICMdecoding block 615200 may output the BICM-decoded MIMO PLP data to theoutput processor. The first decoding block 615400 of the third BICMdecoding block 615300 may output L1-presignaling information byperforming MISO decoding on the L1-presignaling data. The seconddecoding block 615500 of the third BICM decoding block 615300 may outputL1-post signaling information by performing MISO decoding on the L1-postsignaling data.

Hereinafter, a signaling method of the signaling method according to thepresent invention will be described in detail. The signal frameaccording to the present invention may be divided into a preamble regionand a data region, and the preamble region may be configured of a P1symbol and one or more P2 symbols, and the data region may be configuredof multiple data symbols. At this point, the preamble region may furtherinclude an AP1 symbol after the P1 symbol. And, in this case, the P1symbol and the AP1 symbol may be consecutively transmitted.

Herein, the P1 symbol transmits P1 signaling information, the AP1 symboltransmits AP1 signaling information, and the one or more P2 symbol eachtransmits L1 signaling information and signaling information included inthe common PLP (i.e., L2 signaling information). The signalinginformation being included in the common PLP may be transmitted througha data symbol. Therefore, in light of a signal frame over a physicallayer, the preamble region may include a P1 signaling information regionto which the P1 signaling information is signaled, an L1 signalinginformation region to which the L1 signaling information is signaled,and an entire portion or a partial portion of a common PLP region towhich the L2 signaling information is signaled. Herein, the common PLPregion may also be referred to as an L2 signaling information region andthe common PLP may be included in the L2 signaling information region.If a signal frame includes an AP1 symbol, the preamble region includesthe P1 signaling information region, the AP1 signaling informationregion, the L1 signaling information region, and an entire portion or apartial portion of the common PLP region.

The L1 signaling information includes L1-pre-signaling information andL1-post-signaling information. The L1-post-signaling information thenincludes Configurable L1-post-signaling information, DynamicL1-post-signaling information, Extension L1-post-signaling information,and CRC information, and may further include L1 padding data.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of P1 signalinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in FIG. 18, the P1signaling information is assigned with 7 bits and includes a 3-bit S1field and a 4-bit S2 field. In the S2 field, among the 4 bits, the first3 bits are described as S2 field1 and the 1 bit is described as S2field2.

The S1 field signals a preamble format. For example, when the S1 fieldvalue is equal to 000, this indicates that the preamble corresponds to aT2 preamble, and that data are transmitted in an SISO format (T2_SISO).When the S1 field value is equal to 001, this indicates that thepreamble corresponds to a T2 preamble, and that data are transmitted inan MISO format (T2_MISO). When the S1 field value is equal to 010, thisindicates that the preamble corresponds to a non-T2 preamble.

The S2 field signals FFT size information. According to the embodimentof the present invention, the FFT size may correspond to 1 k, 2 k, 4 k,8 k, 16 k, and the GI size may correspond to 1/128, 1/32, 1/16, 19/256,1/8, 19/128, 1/4. The FFT size signifies a number of subcarriersconfiguring a single OFDM symbol. When the S2 filed2 value is equal to0, this indicates that, in the current transmission, all preambles arebeing transmitted as the same type, and when the field value is equal to1, this indicates that the preambles are each transmitted as differenttypes.

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of AP1 signalinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in FIG. 19, theAP1 signaling information is assigned with 7 bits and includes a 4-bitPILOT_PATTERN field and a 3-bit L1_PRE_SPREAD_LENGTH field.

The PILOT_PATTERN field indicates a pilot pattern of the correspondingsignal frame. In the present invention, by transmitting pilot patterninformation through the AP1 symbol, even when the P2 symbol is nottransmitted, and even when the L1 signaling information is spread todata symbols of the data region, the receiver may be aware of the pilotpattern prior to decoding the L1 signaling information of the dataregion.

The L1_PRE_SPREAD_LENGTH field indicates a length of a section withinthe data region in which the L1-pre-signaling information is spread.More specifically, among the data symbols of the signal frame, thisfield indicates a number of data symbols included in a section to whichthe L1-pre-signaling information is being spread. In the presentinvention, the section to which the L1-pre-signaling information isbeing spread will be referred to as an L1 pre spread section. If theL1_PRE_SPREAD_LENGTH field value is equal to ‘000’, this indicates thatthe L1 signaling information is not spread in the data region of thecorresponding signal frame.

In FIG. 19, since the fields included in the AP1 signaling informationand significance of the values of each field are merely examples givento facilitate the understanding of the present invention, and since thefields that can be included in the AP1 signaling information and thesignificance of the respective field values may be easily modified byanyone skilled in the art, the present invention will not be limitedonly to the examples given herein.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of L1-pre-signalinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The L1-pre-signaling information includes information required fordecoding the L1-post-signaling information.

The fields being included in the L1-pre-signaling information of FIG. 20will hereinafter be described in detail.

A TYPE field may be assigned with 8 bits and may indicate the type of aninput stream being transmitted in a super frame. More specifically, theinput stream may correspond to TS, GS, TS+GS, IP, and so on, and suchidentification may use the TYPE field.

A BWT_EXT field is assigned with 1 bit and may indicate whether or not abandwidth extension of an OFDM symbol is to be performed.

An S1 field is assigned with 3 bits and performs the same role as the S1field included in the P1 signaling information of FIG. 18. An S2 fieldis assigned with 4 bits and performs the same role as the S2 fieldincluded in the P1 signaling information of FIG. 18. According to theembodiment of the present invention, an L1_REPETITION_FLAG field isassigned with 1 bit and may indicate whether or not L1-post-signalinginformation related to the current frame is signaled to the P2 symbol.If the L1 signaling information of the next signal frame is configuredto have a structure to which the data symbols of the current signalframe are spread, the L1_REPETITION_FLAG field may also be used in orderto indicate whether or not the L1 signaling information of the nextsignal frame has been spread to the current signal frame. For example,when the L1_REPETITION_FLAG field is equal to 1, this indicates that theL1 signaling information has been spread to the current signal frame,and when the corresponding field is equal to 0, this indicates that theL1 signaling information has not been spread to the current signalframe.

A GUARD_INTERVAL field is assigned with 3 bits and indicates a GI sizeof the current transmission frame. The GI size indicates an occupationratio of the GI within a single OFDM symbol. Accordingly, the OFDMsymbol length may vary depending upon the FFT size and the GI size.

A PAPR field is assigned with 4 bits and indicates a PAPR reductionmethod. The PAPR method used in the present invention may correspond toan ACE method or a TR method.

An L1_MOD field is assigned with 4 bits and may indicate a QAMmodulation type of the L1-post-signaling information.

An L1_COD field is assigned with 2 bits and may indicate a code rate ofthe L1-post-signaling information.

An L1_FEC_TYPE field is assigned with 2 bits and may indicate an FECtype of the L1-post-signaling information.

An L1_POST_SIZE field is assigned with 18 bits and may indicate the sizeof the coded and modulated L1-post-signaling information.

An L1_POST_INFO_SIZE field is assigned with 18 bits and may indicate thesize of the L1-post-signaling information in bit units.

A PILOT_PATTERN field is assigned with 4 bits and may indicate adistributed pilot pattern that is inserted in the current signal frame.

A TX_ID_AVAILABILITY field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate atransmitting apparatus identification capability within the currentgeographical cell range.

A CELL_ID field is assigned with 16 bits and may indicate an identifieridentifying a geographical cell within a network for mobile broadcasting(NGH).

A NETWORK_ID field is assigned with 16 bits and may indicate anidentifier identifying the current network.

A SYSTEM_ID field is assigned with 16 bits and may indicate anidentifier identifying the system.

A NUM_NGH_FRAMES field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a numberof NGH frame within the current super frame.

A NUM_T2_FRAMES field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a numberof T2 frame within the current super frame. This field is useful fordetermining the super frame structure and may be used for calculatingthe information for directly hopping to the next NGH frame.

A L1_POST_SPREAD_LENGTH field is assigned with 12 bits and may indicatethe length of a section within the data region to which theL1-post-signaling information is being spread. More specifically, amongthe data symbols of the signal frame, this field may indicate the numberof data symbols being included in the section to which theL1-post-signaling information is being spread. In the present invention,the section to which the L1-post-signaling information is being spreadwill be referred to as an L1 post spread section. If all of theL1_POST_SPREAD_LENGTH field value is equal to 0, this signifies that theL1-post-signaling information is not spread to the data region of thecorresponding signal frame.

A NUM_DATA_SYMBOLS field is assigned with 12 bits and may indicate anumber of data symbols included in the current signal frame, with theexception for the P1, AP1, P2 symbols.

A NUM_MISO_SYMBOLS field is assigned with 12 bits and may indicate anumber of MISO symbols among the diverse data symbols.

An MIMO_SYMBOL_INTERVAL field is assigned with 12 bits and may indicatea number of MISO symbols between two MIMO symbol parts.

An MIMO_SYMBOL_LENGTH field is assigned with 12 bits and may indicate anumber of MIMO symbols in one MIMO symbol part.

A REGEN_FLAG field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate and mayindicate a number of signal regeneration performed by the repeater.

An L1_POST_EXTENSION field is assigned with 1 bit and may indicatewhether or not an extension field exits in the L1-post-signalinginformation.

A NUM_RF field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate a number of RFswithin the current system.

A CURRENT_RF_IDX field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate an indexof the current RF channel.

A RESERVED field is assigned with 10 bits and corresponds to a fieldthat is reserved for future usage.

A CRC-32 field is assigned with 32 bits and may indicate a CRC errorextraction code of the 32 bits.

In FIG. 20, since the fields included in the L1-pre-signalinginformation and significance of the values of each field are merelyexamples given to facilitate the understanding of the present invention,and since the fields that can be included in the L1-pre-signalinginformation and the significance of the respective field values may beeasily modified by anyone skilled in the art, the present invention willnot be limited only to the examples given herein.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of configurableL1-post-signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The configurable L1-post-signaling information may include parametersrequired by the receiver for decoding a PLP and, more particularly,configurable L1-post-signaling information may include diverseinformation that can be equally applied during a signal frame.

The fields being included in the configurable L1-post-signalinginformation of FIG. 21 will hereinafter be described in detail.

A SUB_SLICES_PER_FRAME field is assigned with 15 bits and may indicate anumber of sub-slices included in a signal frame.

A NUM_PLP field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a number ofPLPs within the current super frame.

A NUM_AUX field is assigned with 4 bits and may indicate a number ofauxiliary streams.

An AUX_CONFIG_RFU field is assigned with 8 bits and corresponds to aregion reserved for a future usage.

Subsequently, a “for loop” (hereinafter referred to as a frequencyloop), which is repeated as many times as the number of RFs within thecurrent system, is signaled. The NUM_RF field is signaled to theL1-pre-signaling information.

Hereinafter, fields being included in the frequency loop will bedescribed in detail.

An RF_IDX field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate an index ofeach frequency within an RF channel.

A FREQUENCY field is assigned with 32 bits and may indicate a centerfrequency of the RF channel.

An FEF_TYPE field, an FEF_LENGTH field, and an FEF_INTERVAL field, whichare shown below, correspond to fields that are used only when the LSB ofthe S2 field is equal to 1, i.e., when the S2 field is expressed asS2=‘xxx1’.

The FEF_TYPE field is assigned with 4 bits and may indicate an FEF(Future extension frame) type.

The FEF_LENGTH field is assigned with 22 bits and may indicate a numberof elementary periods of a related FEF part.

The FEF_INTERVAL field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a numberof T2 frames existing between two FRF parts.

A NEXT_NGH_SUPERFRAME field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate anumber of super frames existing between the current super frame and thenext super frame, which includes the next NGH frame.

A RESERVED_2 field is assigned with 32 bits and corresponds to a fieldthat is reserved for a future usage.

Subsequently, a “for loop” (hereinafter referred to as an auxiliarystream loop), which is repeated as many times as the number of auxiliarystreams (NUM_AUX field value-1), is signaled, a 32-bit AUX_RFU field,which is reserved for a future usage, is included herein.

Subsequently, a “for loop” (hereinafter referred to as a PLP loop),which is repeated as many times as the number of PLPs within the currentsuper frame (NUM_PLP field value-1), is signaled.

Hereinafter, fields being included in the PLP loop will be described indetail.

A PLP_ID field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate an identifieridentifying the corresponding PLP.

A PLP_TYPE field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate whether thecorresponding PLP corresponds to a common PLP, a Type1 data PLP, or aType2 data PLP. Additionally, the PLP_TYPE field may indicate whetherthe corresponding PLP corresponds to a PLP being included in a pluralityof PLP groups, or to a group PLP being included in a single PLP group.

A PLP_PAYLOAD_TYPE field is assigned with 5 bits and may indicate thetype of a PLP payload. More specifically, the data included in thepayload of the PLP may correspond to GFPS, GCS, GSE, TS, IP, and so on,and such identification may use the PLP_PAYLOAD_TYPE field.

The PLP_PROFILE field is assigned with 2 bits and may indicate a profileof the corresponding PLP. More specifically, this field indicateswhether the corresponding field is a mandatory (or required) PLP or anoptional (or selective) PLP. For example, when the PLP of the video datais identified as a PLP for transmitting a base layer and a PLP fortransmitting an enhancement layer, the PLP transmitting the base layerbecomes the mandatory PLP, and the PLP transmitting the enhancementlayer becomes the optional PLP. Additionally, the common PLP correspondsto a mandatory PLP. More specifically, depending upon the receivercharacteristic, such as a mobile receiver, a fixed-type receiver, and soon, the receiver may use the PLP_PROFILE field so as to verify by whichreceiver the component of the broadcast service being transmitted to thecurrent PLP may be used, and depending upon the receiver characteristic,the receiver may determine whether or not to receive the current PLP.

An FF_FLAG field is assigned with 1 bit and, when 2 or more RF channelsare being used, this field may indicate a fixed frequency mode.

A FIRST_RF_IDX field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate an RFindex of a first signal frame of the corresponding PLP.

A FIRST_FRAME_IDX field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a frameindex of the first signal frame of the corresponding PLP.

A PLP_GROUP_ID field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate anidentifier identifying a PLP group related to the corresponding PLP.

A PLP_COD field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate the code rateof the corresponding PLP. In the present invention, any one of the coderates of 1/4, 1/3, 2/5, 1/2, 3/5, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6 may be used in thecorresponding PLP.

A PLP_MOD field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate a constellationsize (i.e., modulation format) of the corresponding PLP. In the presentinvention, any one of the modulation formats (or modulations types) ofBPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM may be used.

A PLP_MIMO_TYPE field is assigned with 2 bits and may indicate whetherthe corresponding PLP corresponds to an MIMO type or an MISO type.

For example, a PLP_MOD field value, i.e., the constellation size may bedecided by a combination with the PLP_MIMO_TYPE field. If thePLP_MIMO_TYPE field value indicates the MISO, the PLP_MOD field may beused for symbol re-mapping. If the PLP_MIMO_TYPE field value indicatesthe MIMO, after performing MIMO processing, the PLP_MOD field may beinterpreted as a constellation size having a spectrum effect, as aresult of the MIMO processing.

A PLP_ROTATION field is assigned with 1 bit and may indicate whether ornot constellation rotation and re-mapping of the PLP has been used.

A PLP_FEC_TYPE field is assigned with 2 bits and may indicate an FECtype of the corresponding PLP.

A PLP_NUM_BLOCKS_MAX field is assigned with 10 bits and may indicate amaximum number of PLPs included in the FEC blocks.

A FRAME_INTERVAL field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a T2frame interval within a super frame, when inter-frame interleaving isapplied.

A TIME_IL_LENGTH field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate a timeinterleaver length (or depth).

A TIME_IL_TYPE field is assigned with 1 bit and may indicate the timeinterleaver type.

An IN_BAND_FLAG field is assigned with 1 bit and may indicate whether ornot in-band signaling exists.

A RESERVED_1 field is assigned with 16 bits and corresponds to a fieldthat is reserved in the PLP loop for a future usage.

The PLP loop may further include a PLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field. ThePLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate thetype of data (or service component) being transmitted through thecorresponding PLP. Therefore, based upon the PLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field,the receiver may be capable of determining whether the type of thecomponent being transmitted through the corresponding PLP corresponds tobase layer video component, an enhancement layer video component, anaudio component, or a data component.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the PLP group mayalso be referred to as an LLP (Link-Layer-Pipe), and the PLP_GROUP_IDfield may also be referred to as an LLP_ID field. Most particularly, anNIT, which is to be described later on, includes a PLP_GROUP_ID field,which is identical to the PLP_GROUP_ID field included in the L1signaling information. And, the NIT may also include atransport_stream_id field for identifying a transmission stream relatedto the PLP group. Therefore, by using the NIT, the receiver may becapable of knowing to which PLP group a specific stream is related. Morespecifically, in order to simultaneously decode streams (e.g., TSs)being transmitted through PLPs having the same PLP_GROUP_ID, the streamsthat are indicated by the transport_stream_id field of the NIT may bemerged, thereby being capable of recovering a single service stream.

If the broadcast signal is transmitted in an IP format, the receiver mayuse the PLP_GROUP_ID field, so as to locate and find the servicecomponents related to a single service. And, by merging such servicecomponents, a single service may be recovered. Accordingly, the receivershould be capable of simultaneously receiving PLPs having the samePLP_GROUP_ID.

In FIG. 21, since the fields included in the configurableL1-post-signaling information and significance of the values of eachfield are merely examples given to facilitate the understanding of thepresent invention, and since the fields that can be included in theconfigurable L1-post-signaling information and the significance of therespective field values may be easily modified by anyone skilled in theart, the present invention will not be limited only to the examplesgiven herein.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary syntax structure of dynamicL1-post-signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The dynamic L1-post-signaling information may include parametersrequired by the receiver for decoding a PLP and, more particularly, thedynamic L1-post-signaling information may include characteristicinformation corresponding to a signal frame that is currently beingtransmitted. Additionally, the dynamic L1-post-signaling information mayalso be signaled to an in-band, so that that the receiver canefficiently process slicing.

The fields being included in the dynamic L1-post-signaling informationof FIG. 22 will hereinafter be described in detail.

A FRAME_IDX field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate an index of acurrent signal frame within the super frame. For example, an index ofthe first signal frame within the super frame may be set to 0.

A SUB_SLICE_INTERVAL field is assigned with 22 bits and may indicate anumber of OFDM cell existing between two sub-slices within the same PLP.

A TYPE_2_START field is assigned with 22 bits and may indicate astarting position among the OFDM cells of the Type2 data PLPs.

An L1_CHANGE_COUNTER field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate anumber of super frame that remain before the L1 configuration (e.g.,contents of the fields included in the L1 pre signaling or content of aconfigurable part in the L1 post signaling).

A START_RF_IDX field is assigned with 3 bits and may indicate a start RFindex of a next signal frame.

A RESERVED_1 field is assigned with 8 bits and corresponds to a fieldthat is reserved for a future usage.

A NEXT_NGH_FRAME field is assigned with 8 bits and corresponds to afield that is used only when the LSB of the S2 field is equal to 1,i.e., when the S2 field is expressed as S2=‘xxx1’. A NEXT_NGH_SUPERFRAMEfield indicates a number of T2 or FEF frames existing between the firstT2 frame within the next super frame, which includes an NGH frame, andthe next NGH frame. The NEXT_NGH_FRAME field and the NEXT_NGH_SUPERFRAMEfield may be used by the receiver for calculating a hopping amount forhopping to the next NGH frame. More specifically, the NEXT_NGH_FRAMEfield and the NEXT_NGH_SUPERFRAME field provide an efficient hoppingmechanism, when a large number of T2 frames are mixed with the FEF, andwhen not all of the FEFs are used only for the NGH frames. Mostparticularly, the receiver may perform hopping to the next NGH framewithout having to detect the P1 signaling information of all signalframes existing in the super frame and to decode the detected P1signaling information.

Subsequently, a “for loop” (hereinafter referred to as a PLP loop),which is repeated as many times as the number of PLPs existing withinthe current super frame (NUM_PLP field value-1), is signaled.

A PLP_ID field, a PLP_START field, and a PLP_NUM_BLOCKS field areincluded in the PLP loop. And, each field will hereinafter be describedin detail.

The PLP_ID field is assigned with 8 bits and may indicate an identifieridentifying a PLP.

The PLP_START field is assigned with 22 bits and may indicate a startingposition of OFDM cells of the current PLP.

The PLP_NUM_BLOCKS field is assigned with 10 bits and may indicate anumber of FEC blocks related to the current PLP.

A RESERVED_2 field is assigned with 8 bits and corresponds to a fieldincluded in the PLP loop that is reserved for a future usage.

A RESERVED_3 field is assigned with 8 bits and corresponds to a fieldthat is reserved for a future usage.

Field included in an auxiliary stream loop will hereinafter bedescribed.

Subsequently, a. “for loop” (hereinafter referred to as an auxiliarystream loop), which is repeated as many times as the number of auxiliarystreams (NUM_AUX field value-1), is signaled, and a 48-bit AUX_RFU fieldis included herein for a future usage.

In FIG. 22, since the fields included in the dynamic L1-post-signalinginformation and significance of the values of each field are merelyexamples given to facilitate the understanding of the present invention,and since the fields that can be included in the dynamicL1-post-signaling information and the significance of the respectivefield values may be easily modified by anyone skilled in the art, thepresent invention will not be limited only to the examples given herein.

Meanwhile, the present invention may signal a PLP or a correlationbetween a PLP and service components, by using at least one of thePLP_GROUP_ID field, the PLP_TYPE field, and the PLP_COMPONENT_TYPE fieldof the PLP loop within the configurable L1-post-signaling information.Additionally, the present invention may also know the operationcharacteristics, such as the mobile performance and data communicationcharacteristics, of the PLP by using the PLP_COD field and the PLP_MODfield.

Hereinafter, when a broadcast signal is a IP format, a signaling methodfor signaling a PLP or a correlation between a PLP and servicecomponents, by using the PLP_GROUP_ID field, the PLP_TYPE field, and thePLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field, will be described in detail.

More specifically, when a broadcast signal is transmitted in an IPformat according to an embodiment of the present invention, the receivermay merge components being transmitted by the PLPs included in the samePLP group, by using a correlation between a service and a PLP, whichtransmits the components included in the service and then the receivermay recover single service.

The signaling of L1 signaling information, L2 signaling information,PAT/PMT, and so on, respective to the correlation between the PLPs, IPstreams, the service, and the components according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may be performed by the input pre-processor 100000or input processor 100100 of the broadcast signal transmitting apparatus(or transmitter), or may be performed by the BICM module 100200.

The input pre-processor shown in FIG. 8 may perform signaling of the L1signaling information and L2 signaling information, and may generatePLPS including ESG, provider information, bootstrap information, and soon, and component PLPs configuring a service. In this case, the L2signaling information may an IP information table.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, signalingof the L1 signaling information, shown in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22, may beperformed by an L1 signaling generator included in the input processoror an L1 signaling generator included in the BICM module.

At this point, PLPs generated from the input pre-processor may beencoded by using the MISO method and then transmitted, or may be encodedby using the MIMO method and then transmitted. In the present invention,the PLP data being transmitted by using the MISO method may be referredto as MISO PLP data, and the PLP data being transmitted by using theMIMO method may be referred to as MIMO PLP data.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in thebroadcast signal receiving apparatus (also referred to as a receiver),any one of the frame demapper, the BICM decoder, and the outputprocessor may perform decoding on a PLP, a TS (or an IP stream), aservice, L1/L2 signaling information to which the correlation betweenthe components is signaled, PAT/PMT or ESG, provider information,bootstrap information, and so on.

FIG. 23 illustrates a conceptual diagram of a correlation between aservice and a PLP group according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

In case of transmitting a broadcast signal of a IP format as shown inFIG. 23, the receiver may acquire information on a service IP address, acomponent type included in a PLP and a component address, and merge PLPsbeing included in the same PLP group, thereby recovering a transportstream. As shown in FIG. 23, the L1 signaling information region 516100according to an embodiment of the present invention may includeinformation related to each of the multiple PLPs, i.e., a PLP_GROUP IDfield, a PLP_ID field, and so on. Also, the L2 signaling informationregion 516200 may include an IP information table, and the IPinformation table may include a IP_address_list( ) field and adescriptor. The IP_address_list( ) field may include IP addressinformation for receiving a Bootstrap, and the descriptor may includethe same PLP_GROUP_ID field and PLP_ID field that are included in the L1signaling information region 516100. Since the IP_address_list( ) fieldand the descriptor form a pair, by using this pair, the receiver may becapable of knowing which PLP group is correlated to a specific IPstream. Thereafter, the receiver may use the IP_address_list( ) field,so as to receive Bootstrap information. Herein, the bootstrapinformation includes a boot_IP_address field. And, by using theboot_IP_address field, the receiver may acquire an IP address that canreceiver (or acquire) a service guide information or broadcast contentguide information.

Subsequently, by using the received bootstrap information, the receivermay receiver service guide information, such as ESG (Electronic ServiceGuide)/BCG (Broadcast Contents Guide). The service guide information orbroadcast contents guide information may be transmitted through aninteractive channel and may be received through an IP stream, which isincluded in a specific PLP. This may vary depending upon the intentionsof the system designer. The receiver may use the service_id field, thecomponent_type field, and the component_IP_address field, which areincluded in the ESG/BCG, so as to decode a desired (or wanted) serviceand service components.

Eventually, by using the component_IP_address included in the ESG/BCG,or by using the boot_IP_address field of the bootstrap, the receiver mayacquire an IP address for each service and service components. And, byusing the IP_address_list( ) field and the PLP_GROUP_ID field of the IPinformation table, the receiver may be capable of knowing which IPstream/packet is correlated to the PLP group. Thereafter, the receivermay merge the service components that are included in a PLP having thesame PLP_GROUP_ID field included in the L1 signaling information region516100, so as to recover a service.

Hereinafter, the L1 signaling information, the IP information table, abootstrap, and an ESG/BCG will be described in detail.

The L1 signaling information may include the same fields included in theL1 signaling information, which is described in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22. And,the receiver may use the PLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field so as to determinewhether or not the L1 signaling information is matched with thecomponent_type field included in the ESG/BCG.

The IP information table corresponds to a table include IP-relatedinformation, i.e., information on an IP address and so on. Herein, thereceiver may be capable of knowing how the IP stream is beingtransmitted from the IP information table through the transport stream.

The IP information table may include an IP_addr_location loop, and theIP_addr_location loop may include a target_IP_add_descriptor( ) and anIP/MAC_location_descriptor.

The target_IP_add_descriptor( ) may include an IP_address_list( ) field,and the IP_address_list( ) field may include information related to theIP address. According to the embodiment of the present invention, thepresent invention includes an IP address/port field. Depending upon thenumber of ports, a plurality of the IP address/port fields may beincluded. The IP/MAC_location_descriptor may also be referred to as anIP/MAC_location_information field, which may be used for connecting thePLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field included in the L1 signaling information to theIP stream. The IP/MAC_location_descriptor may include the same PLP_IDfield and PLP_GROUP_ID field as the PLP_ID field and the PLP_GROUP_IDfield, which are included in the L1 signaling information.

Hereinafter, each field included in the bootstrap and ESG/BCG shown inFIG. 23 will be described in detail.

Herein, the Bootstrap may include a boot_IP_addr field, and theboot_IP_addr field may identify a booting address of the IP.

The ESG/BCG may include a NUM_SERVICE loop. Herein, the NUM_SERVICE loopmay include a respective service_name field, service_id field, and aNUM_COMPONENT loop for each of the multiple services.

The service_name field may be used for indicating the name of eachservice, and the service_id field may be used for identifying eachservice.

The NUM_COMPONENT loop corresponds to a loop include information on themultiple components, which are included in a service. Herein, theNUM_COMPONENT loop may include a component_type field and acomponent_IP_address field.

The component_type field may be used for identifying component types ofthe service. And, examples of the components according to the presentinvention may include a video component of the base layer, a videocomponent of the enhancement layer, audio components, data components,and so on. Also, the component_type field may be matched with thePLP_COMPONENT_TYPE field, which is included in the L1 signalinginformation.

The component_IP_address field may identify the IP address of eachcomponent.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary IP/MAC_location_descriptor according toan embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 24, the IP/MAC_location_descriptor according to anembodiment of the present invention may include a PLP_ID field and aPLP_GROUP_ID field. Since the description of each field is identical tothe PLP_ID field and the PLP_GROUP_ID field included in the L1 signalinginformation, detailed description of the same will be omitted forsimplicity.

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart showing the process steps of a servicescanning method of the receiver according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The receiver tunes to receive an IP type broadcast signal (S518100). Inthis case, in order to receive a service desired by the user, thereceiver requires information on the service included in thetransmission frame, which is being transmitted through the respectivechannel. Although this process step is not shown in the drawing, thisprocess step may be performed by the tuner of the receiver and may bemodified or varied in accordance with the intentions of the systemdesigner.

Then, the receiver may decode the L1 signaling information included inthe transmission frame, so as to acquire a PLP ID and a PLP Group ID(S518200). Thereafter, the receiver may identify the PLP groups by usingthe decoded PLP group ID so as to select a desired PLP group, and thereceiver may then decode the L2 signaling information and the PLPincluding the PSI/SI and metadata (S518300).

The receiver may decode the IP information table included in the decodedL2 signaling information, and the receiver may also decode the metadataincluded in the PLP (S518400). Additionally, the receiver may acquireservice information associated with information on the transmittingsystem and PLP structures, thereby being capable of storing the acquiredservice information (S518400). The service information according to thepresent invention may include a service IP address, a component IPaddress, and so on. Subsequently, the receiver may determine whether ornot the currently selected PLP group corresponds to the last PLP group(S518500).

Based upon the determined result, when it is determined that theselected PLP group does not correspond to the last PLP group, thereceiver may return to the process step S518300, so as to select thenext PLP group. Alternatively, when it is determined that the selectedPLP group corresponds to the last PLP group, the receiver may determinewhether or not the current channel corresponds to the last channel(S518600).

Then, based upon the determined result, when it is determined that thecurrent channel does not correspond to the last channel, the receivermay return to the process step S518100, so as to tune to the nextchannel. And, alternatively, when it is determined that the currentchannel corresponds to the last channel, the receiver may use the storedservice information so as to tune to a first service or a pre-setservice (S518700).

In an embodiment of the present invention, if a broadcast signal isconfigured in an IP format, a broadcast service is transmitted in one oftwo schemes, Open Mobile Alliance-BroadCAST (OMA-BCAST) or DVB-InternetProtocol DataCasting (DVB-IPDC).

A BCAST standardization work under development in the OMAstandardization organization is a system technology supporting abroadcast service that a subgroup of the Browser and Contents (BAC)Working Group (WG) is working on. OMA-BCAST supports a broadcastservice, an interactive service, and a hybrid service. The OMA-BCASTstandard provides a service management framework for providing anIP-based multicast broadcast service.

DVB-IPDC is a system technology for transmitting an IP-based mobile TVservice. DVB-IPDC may support a system structure including DVB PSI/SIsignaling, an ESG, Content Delivery Protocols (CDPs), etc.

The above-described two schemes support a broadcast service through anESG and invoke a physical layer by a Session Description Protocol (SDP).

The SDP is a protocol for transmitting multi-media session informationsuch as media details, a transmission address, metadata of othersessions, etc. during initialization for delivering a plurality ofmultimedia over the Internet. The SDP is an Internet Engineering TaskForce (IETF) standard table. Session information is largely divided intoa single session description, zero or more time descriptions, and zeroor more media descriptions, expressed in text. The single sessiondescription may include a protocol version, a session Identifier (ID), asession name, session attributes, etc. The time description may includethe active time and repetition number of the session. The mediadescription may include a medium name and IP address, connectioninformation such as a port number, medium features, etc.

If SVC is used for an NGH broadcast service in the present invention,SVC information is transmitted by the session attribute information ormedia feature information of the SDP in an embodiment. Accordingly, thesession attribute information or media feature information may includeSVC codec information of the broadcast service. If a medium included inthe session corresponds to an enhancement layer of the broadcastservice, the session attribute information or media feature informationmay include information about a base layer.

Each broadcast service may be identified by an IP address, a servicecomponent such as video/audio may be identified by a TCP/UDP portnumber, and the base layer and enhancement layer of SVC may also beidentified by TCP/UDP numbers. Each PLP included in a signal frame maybe identified by PLP_ID, LLP_ID, etc.

FIG. 26 is a conceptual view illustrating NGH broadcast servicesignaling in the case of OMA-BCAST according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

A transmitter may transmit information related to an OMA-BCAST broadcastservice, that is, a service IP address, etc. by an OMA-BCAST ESG.

The OMA-BCAST ESG may include an administrative fragment, a provisionfragment, a core fragment, and an access fragment.

The administrative fragment may include information about the structureand acquisition of the OMA-BCAST ESG.

The provision fragment may include information about purchase ofservices that users can buy.

The core fragment may include information about a service provided tousers, for example, a conventional TV channel, metadata of content, andscheduling information about content of the service.

The access fragment may include information about access to a service orcontent. Particularly, the access fragment may indicate a specific SDP.

The SDP may include a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) audio session,an RTP video session, and a FLUTE data session.

The sessions of an exemplary SDP illustrated in FIG. 26 will bedescribed below in brief.

V represents the protocol version of a session, o represents a sessionID, s represents a session name, c indicates connection information, trepresents the active time of the session, m represents a media type andIP address, and a indicates media features.

In an IP layer, the audio and video components of a broadcast servicemay be encapsulated into RTP audio and video sessions, for transmission,while L2 signaling information may be transmitted in a FLUTE datasession.

A signal frame may include a common/signaling PLP, a base-layer PLPcarrying a base layer, and an enhancement PLP carrying an enhancementlayer. The common/signaling PLP may include an L1 signaling region andan L2 signaling region according to the present invention.

The base-layer PLP may deliver data corresponding to the base layer fromamong the audio and video components encapsulated in the RTP audio andvideo sessions, and the enhancement PLP may deliver video datacorresponding to the enhancement layer from among the video dataencapsulated in the RTP video session.

A receiver may decode the signal frame and acquire an IP informationtable, etc. from the decoded common/signaling PLP, and the IP addressesof a bootstrap and an ESG from the IP information table. Then thereceiver may receive the ESG using the acquired IP addresses of thebootstrap and the ESG.

The receiver is now capable of accessing the access fragment of the ESGand acquiring the IP address and port number of a service by a specificSDP indicated by the access fragment of the ESG. In addition, thereceiver may acquire information about the purchase of each service froma purchase/bundle fragment or a provision fragment and may select anintended service.

The SDP may provide the IP address, component port number, and SVCinformation of each service.

The receiver may acquire the IP address and component port number ofeach service and SVC information from the SDP and may selectively decodethe base-layer PLP or the enhancement PLP using the information.

FIG. 27 is a conceptual view illustrating NGH broadcast servicesignaling in the case of DVB-IPDC according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

A transmitter may transmit information related to a DVB-IPDC broadcastservice, that is, a service IP address, etc. in a DVB-IPDC ESG. TheDVB-IPDC ESG is the same as the OMA-BCAST ESG illustrated in FIG. 26except that the former includes a purchase/bundle fragment, aservice/schedule fragment, and an acquisition fragment.

The purchase/bundle fragment is identical to the provision fragmentdescribed with reference to FIG. 26, the service/schedule fragment isidentical to the core fragment described with reference to FIG. 26, andthe acquisition fragment is identical to the access fragment describedwith reference to FIG. 26. Thus, a detailed description of thepurchase/bundle fragment, the service/schedule fragment, and theacquisition fragment is not provided herein.

FIG. 28 is a conceptual view illustrating an operation for recovering anSVC substream using an ESG and an SDP according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

As described before with reference to FIG. 27, the receiver may scan achannel and decode a signal frame, thereby acquiring IP-PLP mappinginformation. Then the receiver may acquire the IP address of an ESG froman IP information table by decoding an L2 signaling information region.As described before, the ESG may be received on an interactive channelor in an IP stream included in a specific PLP. The receiver may select aservice from the received ESG.

FIG. 28 illustrates an operation for recovering an SVC substream usingan ESG and an SDP.

The receiver may acquire information about the purchase of broadcastservice 1 from a provision fragment or a purchase/bundle fragment of thereceived ESG. The receiver may acquire the IP address of broadcastservice 1 by SDP 1 indicated by an access fragment or an acquisitionfragment of the ESG and may acquire port number 1, port number 2, andSVC information of a video included in broadcast service 1, therebyrecovering an SVC substream.

In this case, the IP address of each service, the port numbers ofcomponents in each service, and IP-PLP mapping information forconnecting to a PLP carrying each service component are needed for thereceiver to select a PLP carrying an intended component and decode thePLP. The IP-PLP mapping information may be transmitted in the L1signaling information region, L2 signaling information region, or commonPLP of a signal frame, depending on the designer's intention.

If the IP-PLP mapping information is transmitted in the L2 signalinginformation region or the common PLP, it may be transmitted inIP/MAC_location_descriptor of the IP information table, as describedwith reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

Or the IP-PLP mapping information may be transmitted through anindependent session in an IP layer.

FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate formats of IP-PLP mapping information.

The IP-PLP mapping information may be configured in one of a binary dataformat, a TS private packet format, and an XML format, depending on thedesigner's intention.

If the IP-PLP mapping information is configured in the TS private packetformat, it may be transmitted in IP/MAC_location_descriptor of the IPinformation table.

As described with reference to FIG. 24, the IP information table mayinclude an IP_address_list( ) field and descriptor. The IP_address_list() field may include IP address information by which to receive bootstrapinformation and an ESG in an embodiment. The descriptor may include asystem_ID field, a PLP_ID field, a PLP_GROUP_ID field, etc. Since theIP_address_list( ) field and descriptor are paired, the receiver maydetermine from the pair what PLP group is associated with a specific IPstream.

FIG. 29 illustrates the syntax of a binary data format including IP-PLPmapping information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 29, the syntax of the binary data format may include a“for loop” for an IP_FORMAT field, a NUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field, and aNUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field. The “for loop” for the NUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field mayinclude IP-PLP mapping information such as a PLP ID, the IP address of abroadcast service, and the port number of a broadcast servicetransmitted in the PLP. Each field will be described below briefly.

IP_FORMAT may indicate a format type.

NUM_PLP_IP_PAIR may indicate the number of pieces of IP-PLP mappinginformation.

The “for loop” for the NUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field may include the IP-PLPmapping information and may be iterated as many times as the number ofpieces of IP-PLP mapping information indicated by the NUM_PLP_IP_PAIRfield.

Specifically, the “for loop” for the NUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field may include aNUM_IP_PORT_ADDR field, a “for loop” for the NUM_IP_PORT_ADDR field, anda PLP_ID field.

The NUM_IP_PORT_ADDR field may indicate the number of the port addressesof components transmitted in a PLP.

The “for loop” for the NUM_IP_PORT_ADDR field may include an IP_ADDRESSfield and a PORT_NUMBER field and may be iterated as many times as thenumber of the port addresses of components of a broadcast serviceindicated by the NUM_IP_PORT_ADDR field.

The IP_ADDRESS field may indicate the IP address of a broadcast service.The PORT_NUMBER field may indicate the port number of a broadcastservice component. The PLP_ID field may identify a PLP.

Therefore, the receiver may determine a format type from the IP_FORMATfield and identify a PLP associated with a specific IP stream from theNUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field and the “for loop” for the NUM_PLP_IP_PAIR field.

FIG. 30 illustrates the syntax of an XML format including IP-PLP mappinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, while the XML syntax may be transmitted as it is, it mayalso be compressed to a Binary format for Metadata/GNU ZIP (BiM/GZIP)prior to transmission.

Referring to FIG. 30, the XML syntax may include an IP_FORMAT tag and aPLP_IP_PAIR tag. The PLP_IP_PAIR tag may include a plurality of IP_PORTtags and PLP_ID tags.

The contents of each tag are identical to the contents of itscounterpart illustrated in FIG. 29 and thus a detailed description ofeach tag will not be provided herein.

The receiver may identify the current version of the XML syntax from theIP_FORMAT tag and determine what PLP is associated with a specific IPstream from the PLP_ID tags and IP_PORT tags defined under thePLP_IP_PAIR tag.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a channel scanning method accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

The receiver receives a broadcast signal of an IP format on a specificchannel by tuning to the specific channel (S960100). To receive adesired service, a user needs information about services included in atransmission frame transmitted on a channel. While this operation is notshown in FIG. 31, the tuner of the receiver may perform this operationdepending on the designer's intention.

The receiver may acquire IP-PLP mapping information by decoding L1signaling information and L2 signaling information included in atransmission frame (S960200). As described before, the IP-PLP mappinginformation may be transmitted in the L1 signaling information or the L2signaling information, or through an independent session in an IP layerdepending on the designer's intention.

Then the receiver downloads the acquired IP-PLP mapping information(S960300). As described before, the IP-PLP mapping information may beconfigured in one of the binary data format, the TS private packetformat, and the XML format depending on the designer's intention.

The receiver may acquire an ESG IP address related to the IP-PLP mappinginformation from the decoded L1 signaling information and L2 signalinginformation and receive an ESG using the ESG IP address (S960400). Asdescribed above, the ESG may be received on an interactive channel or inan IP stream included in a specific PLP.

The receiver downloads the received ESG and stores the ESG (S960500).

The receiver may determine whether the current channel is the lastchannel (S960600).

If the current channel is not the last channel, the receiver may returnto step S960100 and tune to the next channel. On the other hand, if thecurrent channel is the last channel, the receiver may tune to a firstservice or a preset service using the stored service information(S960700).

As described above, if a broadcast signal has the IP format, eachservice is provided through an ESG and the afore-described OMA-BCAST andDVB-IPDC may invoke a physical layer by an SDP. In this case, abootstrap IP address with which to receive a bootstrap may exist insidethe receiver and the bootstrap may include signaling information aboutan ESG, for example, an ESG IP address. The bootstrap and the ESG may bereceived in specific PLPs using their IP addresses. Accordingly, thereceiver should acquire signaling information about the bootstrap andthe ESG rapidly to start a service. If it takes a long time to acquirethe signaling information about the bootstrap and the ESG, the servicestart may be delayed. In this context, there exists a need for asignaling method that enables a receiver to fast acquire a bootstrap andan ESG.

Now a description will be given of two signaling methods that enable areceiver to fast acquire signaling information about a bootstrap and anESG.

In an embodiment, signaling information about a bootstrap and an ESG istransmitted in an L1 signaling information region.

In another embodiment, signaling information about a bootstrap and anESG is transmitted in a common PLP.

Hereinafter, signaling information about a bootstrap and an ESG will bereferred to as bootstrap signaling information and ESG signalinginformation.

Because both the L1 signaling information region and the common PLPreside at the start of a signal frame, the receiver may acquirebootstrap and ESG signaling information rapidly by receiving anddecoding the L1 signaling information region or the common PLP. Thecommon PLP may also be called a signaling PLP depending on thedesigner's intention in the present invention. The signaling PLP may bePLP data in a data region, which may vary depending on the designer'sintention.

Further, a PLP carrying bootstrap and ESG signaling information may becalled a dedicated PLP. The concept of the dedicated PLP may cover thecommon PLP or PLP data depending on the designer's intention. Thededicated PLP may be positioned at the end of a P1 signaling informationregion. If the dedicated PLP does not include the L1 signalinginformation region, the dedicated PLP may be disposed at the end of theL1 signaling information region depending on the designer's intention.

According to the present invention, both the bootstrap signalinginformation and the ESG signaling information or only the bootstrapsignaling information may be transmitted in the L1 signaling informationor the common PLP. In the latter case, the ESG signaling information maybe transmitted in a bootstrap, depending on the designer's intention.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a boot-up service according to anembodiment of the present invention.

After tuning to a current received channel, the receiver may receive aP1 signaling information region and an L1 signaling information region(S3000000). As described before, a bootstrap IP address may be preservedin the receiver. Accordingly, the receiver may connect to a bootstrap IPusing the bootstrap IP address (S3000100).

The receiver may detect a PLP corresponding to the bootstrap IP(S3000200). As described before, bootstrap signaling information may betransmitted in the L1 signaling information region or a common PLPdepending on the designer's intention. Thus the receiver may detect thePLP corresponding to the bootstrap IP using the bootstrap signalinginformation transmitted in the L1 signaling information region.

Then the receiver may receive and decode the bootstrap and acquire anESG IP address from the decoded bootstrap (S3000300). As describedbefore with reference to FIG. 23, the bootstrap may include ESGsignaling information. Or the ESG signaling information may betransmitted together with the bootstrap signaling information in the L1signaling information region or the common PLP. In this case, the ESGsignaling information may be acquired from the L1 signaling informationregion or the common PLP. Or after the bootstrap is received, the ESGsignaling information may be acquired from the bootstrap, which will bedescribed later in detail.

The receiver may connect to an ESG IP using the ESG IP address(S3000400).

Further the receiver may detect a PLP corresponding to the ESG IP(S3000500).

The receiver may receive and decode the PLP, thus acquiring the ESG(S3000600).

FIG. 33 illustrates the syntax structure of an L1 signaling informationregion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described before, bootstrap and ESG signaling information may betransmitted in the L1 signaling information region according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 illustrates the syntax of the bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation transmitted in the L1 signaling information region. In anembodiment of the present invention, this syntax is added to the syntaxof the L1 signaling information region illustrated in FIG. 21. Asdescribed before, the ESG signaling information may be transmitted in abootstrap, not in the L1 signaling information region, depending on thedesigner's intention.

Referring to FIG. 33, the bootstrap and ESG signaling information mayfurther include a PLP_BOOT field, a FLAG_ESG_PRE_INFO field, a NUM_ESGfield, and a “for loop” for the NUM_ESG field.

Each field will be described below.

The PLP_BOOT field is an 8-bit field that may indicate a PLP carryingfull information about a bootstrap. In this case, the PLP indicated bythe PLP_BOOT field may carry an IP packet stream, including informationfor delivering an ESG by a file delivery protocol and details about anESG provider. The PLP indicated by the PLP_BOOT field may be theafore-described dedicated PLP.

The FLAG_ESG_PRE_INFO field is a 1-bit field that may indicate whetherthe ESG signaling information is transmitted in the L1 signalinginformation region. In this case, the receiver may acquire the ESGsignaling information along with the bootstrap signaling information inthe L1 signaling information region. On the other hand, if the ESGsignaling information is not transmitted in the L1 signaling informationregion, the receiver may acquire the ESG signaling information in otherPLP data.

The NUM_ESG field indicates an ESG type. If a plurality of ESG providersexist, there may be a plurality of ESGs.

In the case of a plurality of ESGs, a “for loop” may be used to provideinformation about each ESG. The “for loop” may include a PROVIDER_IDfield, a VERSION field, an IP_ADDRESS field, a PORT_NUMBER field, aSESSION_ID field, and a PLP_ID field. These fields will be describedbelow.

The PROVIDER_ID field is a 16-bit field that may identify an ESGprovider.

The VERSION field is an 8-bit field that may indicate the version of ESGconnection information.

The IP_ADDRESS field is a 32-bit or 48-bit field that may indicate theIP address of an ESG.

The PORT_NUMBER field is a 16-bit field that may indicate the portnumber of the ESG.

The SESSION_ID field is a 16-bit field that may indicate the session IDof the ESG.

The PLP_ID field is an 8-bit field that may indicate a PLP carrying theESG.

Hence, the receiver may detect a PLP corresponding to the bootstrap IPaddress preserved in the receiver, using the PLP_BOOT field. Thereceiver may determine the presence or absence of the ESG signalinginformation in the current L1 signaling information region using theFLAG_ESG_PRE_INFO field. In the absence of the ESG signaling informationin the L1 signaling information region, the receiver may receive thebootstrap by receiving and decoding the PLP indicated by the PLP_BOOTfield. After decoding the received bootstrap and acquiring the ESGsignaling information from the decoded bootstrap, the receiver maydetect a PLP carrying an ESG and receive the ESG in the PLP.

On the contrary, in the presence of the ESG signaling information in theL1 signaling information region, the receiver may receive the ESGsignaling information in the L1 signaling information region and detecta PLP corresponding to an ESG IP address. Subsequently, the receiver mayreceive and decode the PLP, thereby receiving the ESG.

As described before, bootstrap and ESG signaling information may betransmitted in a common PLP according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention. In this case, the bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation may be configured in one of the binary data format, thePST/SI data format, and the XML data format depending on the designer'sintention.

Bootstrap and ESG signaling information configured in each format willbe described below. Depending on the designer's intention, the ESGsignaling information may not be added and instead, it may betransmitted in a bootstrap.

FIG. 34 illustrates the syntax of a binary data format includingbootstrap and ESG signaling information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

The bootstrap and ESG signaling information illustrated in FIG. 34 maybe included in the syntax of the binary data format including IP-PLPmapping information illustrated in FIG. 29.

Referring to FIG. 34, the bootstrap and ESG signaling information mayfurther include a PLP_BOOT field, a FLAG_ESG_PRE_INFO field, a NUM_ESGfield, and a “for loop” for the NUM_ESG field.

The description of FIG. 33 may be referred to for each field and thereceiver also operates in the same manner as described with reference toFIG. 33. Thus, a detailed description of the above fields and a relatedoperation of the receiver will not be provided herein.

FIG. 35 illustrates the syntax of a PSI/SI data format includingbootstrap and ESG signaling information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

The syntax of the PSI/SI data format illustrated in FIG. 35 may beincluded as a simple bootstrap descriptor in the IP information tabledescribed with reference to FIG. 23.

Referring to FIG. 35, the syntax of the PSI/SI data format includingbootstrap and ESG signaling information may include a descriptor tagfield, a descriptor length field, a bootstrap_PLP field, anESG_info_flag field, an IPv6_flag field, and a reserved field.

Each field will be described below.

The descriptor tag field is an 8-bit field that may identify thedescriptor.

The descriptor length field is an 8-bit field that may indicate thelength of the descriptor.

The bootstrap_PLP field is an 8-bit field identical to the PLP_BOOTfield illustrated in FIG. 33, although their names are different.

The ESG_info_flag field is a 1-bit field identical to theFLAG_ESG_PRE_INFO field illustrated in FIG. 33, although their names aredifferent. That is, the ESG_info_flag field may indicate whether ESGsignaling information is included in the current descriptor.

The IPv6_flag field is a 1-bit field that may indicate IP version 6. IPversion 6 is the official standard of the IETF, also called IP nextgeneration (IPng).

The reserved field is a 6-bit field reserved for future use for anotherfield.

If the ESG_info_flag field indicates the presence of ESG signalinginformation, the NUM_ESG field and the “for loop” for providinginformation about each ESG may exist, as described before with referenceto FIG. 33. Thus a detailed description of the NUM_ESG field and the“for loop” will not be provided herein.

Therefore, the receiver may detect a PLP corresponding to the bootstrapIP address preserved in the receiver using the bootstrap_PLP field. Thereceiver may determine from the FLAG_infor_flag field whether the ESGsignaling information is transmitted in the current common PLP. If theESG signaling information is not transmitted in the common PLP, thereceiver may receive and decode a PLP indicated by the bootstrap_PLPfield and thus receive a bootstrap. After acquiring ESG signalinginformation by decoding the received bootstrap, the receiver may detecta PLP carrying an ESG and thus receive the ESG.

On the contrary, if the ESG signaling information is transmitted in thecommon PLP, the receiver may acquire the ESG signaling information fromthe common PLP and thus detect a PLP corresponding to an ESG IP address.Then the receiver may receive and decode the PLP, thereby receiving anESG.

FIG. 36 illustrates the syntax of an XML data format including bootstrapand ESG signaling information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Because the XML data format can be extended freely, information aboutthe address of a bootstrap, information about an ESG provider, etc. maybe added, extended, or deleted.

Referring to FIG. 36, the XML syntax may include a BOOT_PLP_INFO tag andthe BOOT_PLP_INFO tag may include a BOOTSTRAP_INFO tag and anESG_PRE_INFO tag. The contents of each tag are identical to those of itscounterpart illustrated in FIGS. 33, 34 and 35 and thus a detaileddescription of each tag is not provided herein. A PROVIDER_NAME tagincluded in the ESG_PRE_INFO tag is newly added and will be describedbelow.

The PROVIDER_NAME tag indicates the name of an ESG provider. In FIG. 36,the ESG provider is shown as LG U+myLGTV ESG in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 36, the BOOTSTRAP_INFO tag and the ESG_PRE_INFO taghave the same PLP_ID, OX01. Hence, it is noted from FIG. 36 that abootstrap and an ESG are transmitted in the same PLP, PLP 1.

That is, the receiver may acquire the IP addresses of a bootstrap and anESG from the XML syntax, receive and decode PLP 1 corresponding to theIP addresses of the bootstrap and the ESG, and acquire the bootstrap andthe ESG from PLP 1.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for starting a serviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The receiver may detect an L1 signaling. information region by decodinga P1 signaling information region (S3500000). P1 signaling informationtransmitted in the P1 signaling information region is used to detect asignal frame and may include tuning information and information foridentifying a preamble itself. The L1 signaling information region mayreside at the end of the P1 signaling information region in the signalframe.

The receiver may decode L1 signaling information included in thedetected L1 signaling information region and acquire bootstrap signalinginformation from the decoded L1 signaling information (S3500100).

As described before with reference to FIG. 33, bootstrap and ESGsignaling information may be added to the syntax of the L1 signalinginformation region described with reference to FIG. 21. Depending on thedesigner's intention, the ESG signaling information may not be added andinstead, it may be transmitted in a bootstrap.

Therefore, the receiver determines whether ESG signaling information istransmitted in the current L1 signaling information region, that is, ESGsignaling information is present in the current L1 signaling informationregion (S3500200).

In the absence of ESG signaling information, the receiver may receive abootstrap PLP using the bootstrap signaling information and acquire afull-version bootstrap (S3500300).

On the contrary, in the presence of ESG signaling information, thereceiver may determine whether the full-version bootstrap information isneeded (S3500400). It may occur that an ESG cannot be received due tolack of information included the current ESG signaling information. Inthis case, the receiver may need to receive the full-version bootstrapand use ESG signaling information included in the bootstrap.

If determining that the full-version bootstrap is needed, the receivermay return to step S3500300. Thus the receiver may receive a PLPcarrying the bootstrap and acquire the bootstrap. Then the receiver mayreceive and decode a PLP carrying an ESG using the ESG signalinginformation included in the bootstrap, thereby acquiring the ESG(S3500600).

On the other hand, if determining that the full-version bootstrap is notneeded, the receiver may acquire the ESG signaling information includedin the L1 signaling information region and detect a PLP carrying an ESGusing the ESG signaling information (S3500500). Specifically, thereceiver may identify the PLP carrying the ESG using PLP_ID included inthe ESG signaling information, as described before with reference toFIG. 33. Subsequently, the receiver may acquire the ESG by receiving anddecoding the PLP carrying the ESG (S3500600).

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for starting a serviceaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The receiver may detect an L1 signaling information region by decoding aP1 signaling information region (S3600000). P1 signaling informationtransmitted in the P1 signaling information region is used to detect asignal frame and may include tuning information and information foridentifying a preamble itself, as described before. The L1 signalinginformation region may reside at rear end of the P1 signalinginformation region in the signal frame.

The receiver may detect a common PLP using L1 signaling informationincluded in the decoded L1 signaling information region (S3600100). Thecommon PLP may reside at the end of the L1 signaling information regionand may include L2 signaling information.

The receiver may decode the common PLP and acquire bootstrap signalinginformation (S3600200).

As described before, the common PLP may deliver bootstrap and ESGsignaling information or only the bootstrap signaling informationdepending on the designer's intention according to the second embodimentof the present invention.

Therefore, the receiver determines whether ESG signaling information istransmitted in the current common PLP, that is, ESG signalinginformation is present in the current common PLP (S35004\300).

In the absence of ESG signaling information, the receiver may receive abootstrap PLP using the bootstrap signaling information and acquire afull-version bootstrap (S3500400).

In the presence of ESG signaling information, the receiver may determinewhether full-version bootstrap information is needed (S3500500). It mayoccur that an ESG cannot be received due to lack of information includedthe current ESG signaling information. In this case, the receiver mayneed to receive the full-version bootstrap and use ESG signalinginformation included in the bootstrap.

If determining that the full-version bootstrap is needed, the receivermay return to step S3500400. Thus the receiver may receive a PLPcarrying the bootstrap and acquire the full-version bootstrap. Then thereceiver may receive and decode a PLP carrying an ESG using the ESGsignaling information included in the bootstrap, thereby acquiring theESG (S3500700).

On the other hand, if determining that the full-version bootstrap is notneeded, the receiver may acquire the ESG signaling information includedin the L1 signaling information region and detect the PLP carrying theESG using the ESG signaling information (S3500600). Specifically, thereceiver may identify the PLP carrying the ESG using PLP_ID describedbefore with reference to FIGS. 34, 35 and 36. Subsequently, the receivermay acquire the ESG by receiving and decoding the PLP carrying the ESG(S3500700).

FIG. 39 is a conceptual view illustrating the structure of a signalframe and an operation for receiving a bootstrap and an ESG according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention,bootstrap signaling information and ESG signaling information may betransmitted together in an L1 signaling information region 3700000 asignal frame. Depending on the designer's intention, only the bootstrapsignaling information may be transmitted in the L1 signaling informationregion 3700000. A bootstrap may include the ESG signaling information.

In FIG. 39, a solid line denotes an operation of the receiver in thecase where the ESG signaling information is not transmitted along withthe bootstrap signaling information, and a broken line denotes anoperation of the receiver in the case where the ESG signalinginformation is transmitted along with the bootstrap signalinginformation.

The operations of the receiver will be described respectively.

In the case where only the bootstrap signaling information such asbootstrap PLP information is transmitted in the L1 signaling informationregion 3700000, the receiver may decode the L1 signaling informationregion 3700000 and acquire the bootstrap PLP information. Subsequently,the receiver may acquire a bootstrap by receiving and decoding a PLP3700100 carrying the bootstrap using the bootstrap PLP information. Thereceiver may receive a PLP 3700200 carrying an ESG using ESG signalinginformation included in the bootstrap and thus may acquire the ESG.

In the case where the bootstrap signaling information and the ESGsignaling information are transmitted together in the L1 signalinginformation region 3700000, the receiver may acquire bootstrap PLPinformation and ESG PLP information by decoding the L1 signalinginformation region 3700000. Subsequently, the receiver may receive thebootstrap by receiving and decoding the PLP 3700100 carrying thebootstrap using the bootstrap PLP information. The receiver may alsoacquire the ESG by receiving and decoding the PLP 3700200 carrying theESG using the ESG PLP information. As described before, the receiver mayacquire the ESG by additionally using ESG signaling information includedin the bootstrap.

FIG. 40 is a conceptual view illustrating the structure of a signalframe and an operation for receiving a bootstrap and an ESG according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention,bootstrap signaling information and ESG signaling information may betransmitted together in a common PLP 3800000 of a signal frame.Depending on the designer's intention, only the bootstrap signalinginformation may be transmitted in the common PLP 3800000. A bootstrapmay include the ESG signaling information.

In FIG. 40, a solid line denotes an operation of the receiver in thecase where the ESG signaling information is not transmitted along withthe bootstrap signaling information, and a broken line denotes anoperation of the receiver in the case where the ESG signalinginformation is transmitted along with the bootstrap signalinginformation.

The operations of the receiver will be described respectively.

In the case where only the bootstrap signaling information istransmitted in the common PLP 3800000, the receiver may decode thecommon PLP 3800000 and acquire the bootstrap PLP information.Subsequently, the receiver may acquire a bootstrap by receiving anddecoding a PLP 3800100 carrying the bootstrap using the bootstrap PLPinformation. The receiver may receive a PLP 3800200 carrying an ESGusing ESG signaling information included in the bootstrap and thusacquire the ESG.

In the case where the bootstrap signaling information and the ESGsignaling information are transmitted together in the common PLP3800000, the receiver may acquire bootstrap PLP information and ESG PLPinformation by decoding the common PLP 3800000. Subsequently, thereceiver may receive the bootstrap by receiving and decoding the PLP3800100 carrying the bootstrap using the bootstrap PLP information. Thereceiver may also acquire the ESG by receiving and decoding the PLP3800200 carrying the ESG using the ESG PLP information. As describedfore, the receiver may acquire the ESG by additionally using ESGsignaling information included in the bootstrap.

FIG. 41 illustrates the structure of a common PLP according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

A common PLP 3900000 according to the present invention may includeIP-PLP mapping information and bootstrap and ESG signaling information,as described before. In this case, the data format of system informationand cell information may be determined according to the data format ofthe common PLP. That is, as described before, if the IP-PLP mappinginformation and the bootstrap and ESG signaling information areconfigured in one of the binary, PSI/SI and XML data format, they may beexpressed according to the data format.

In the present invention, the IP-PLP mapping information, the systeminformation, and the cell information may be referred to as L2information.

FIG. 42 illustrates the syntax of system information according to anembodiment of the present invention.

System information included in a common PLP according to the embodimentof the present invention may include a SISO/MISO field, a BANDWIDTHfield, a GUARD_INTERVAL field, and an FFT_SIZE field. The fields will bedescribed below.

The SISO/MISO field is a 2-bit field indicating a SISO/MISO modesupported by each PLP. In an embodiment of the present invention, if theSISO/MISO field is OX00, this indicates SISO/SIMO and if the SISO/MISOfield is OX01, this indicates MISO/MIMO.

The BANDWIDTH field is a 4-bit field that may indicate the bandwidth ofa broadcast signal.

The GUARD_INTERVAL field is a 3-bit field identical to theGUARD_INTERVAL field described with reference to FIG. 16.

The FFT_SIZE field is a 3-bit field that may indicate an FFT size and atransmission mode.

FIG. 43 illustrates the syntax of cell information according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Cell information included in a common PLP according to the embodiment ofthe present invention may include a NUM_CELL field and a “for loop” forthe NUM_CELL field.

NUM_CELL is a 16-bit field that may indicate the total number of cellsto which a broadcast signal is transmitted.

The “for loop” for the NUM_CELL field is iterated as many times as thenumber of cells, including fields indicating corresponding informationfor each cell. Specifically, the “for loop” may include a CELL_ID field,a CENTRE_FREQUENCY field, a NUM_SUBCELL field, and a “for loop” for theNUM_SUBCELL field. These fields will be described below.

The CELL_ID field is an 8-bit field that may indicate a unique celldefining a broadcast signal transmission zone.

The CENTRE_FREQUENCY field may indicate the reception frequency of eachcell.

The NUM_SUBCELL field is an 8-bit field that may indicate the number ofsubcells included in each cell.

The “for loop” for the NUM_SUBCELL field is iterated as many times asthe number of subcells, including fields indicating correspondinginformation for each subcell. Specifically, the “for loop” for theNUM_SUBCELL field may include a CELL_ID_EXTENSION field and aTRANSPOSER_FREQUENCY field. These fields will be described.

The CELL_ID_EXTENSION field may identify each subcell.

The TRANSPOSER_FREQUENCY field indicates a transposer frequency used ina subcell.

As described above, while the IP-PLP mapping information, the systeminformation, and the cell information, that is, the L2 information maybe transmitted in the common PLP, it may be transmitted in PLP datadepending on the designer's intention. In this case, the receiver needssignaling information about the L2 information in order to receive a PLPcarrying the L2 information. In the present invention, the signalinginformation about the L2 information may be referred to as L2 signalinginformation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a bootstrap and L2information may be transmitted in the same PLP depending on thedesigner's intention. This PLP may be referred to as a dedicated PLP.

Now a description will be given of a method for signaling L2 signalinginformation. The method for signaling L2 signaling information isapplicable to both of the first and second embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 44 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the structure of a signalframe and a method for signaling L2 signaling information according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 44, L2 signaling information may be transmittedtogether with bootstrap and ESG signaling information in an L1 signalinginformation region 4000000 or a common PLP 4000100.

If the L2 signaling information and the bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation are transmitted together in the L1 signaling informationregion 4000000, the receiver may acquire the bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation and the L2 signaling information by receiving and decodingthe L1 signaling information region 4000000.

Subsequently, the receiver may acquire a bootstrap by receiving anddecoding a PLP 4000200 carrying the bootstrap using the bootstrapsignaling information. In addition, the receiver may acquire an ESG byreceiving and decoding a PLP 4000300 carrying the ESG using the ESGsignaling information. As described before, the receiver may acquire theESG using ESG signaling information included in the bootstrap dependingon the designer's intention.

The receiver may acquire the L2 information by receiving and decoding aPLP 4000400 carrying the L2 information using the L2 signalinginformation. In this case, the L2 information is configured in the formof a file and may be received by a file delivery protocol such as FLUTE,etc.

If the L2 signaling information and the bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation are transmitted together in a common PLP 4000100, thereceiver may receive the common PLP 4000100 by receiving and decodingthe L1 signaling information region 4000000 and may acquire thebootstrap and ESG signaling information and the L2 signaling informationby receiving and decoding the common PLP 4000100.

Subsequently, the receiver may acquire the bootstrap by receiving anddecoding the PLP 4000200 carrying the bootstrap using the bootstrapsignaling information. In addition, the receiver may acquire the ESG byreceiving and decoding the PLP 4000300 carrying the ESG using the ESGsignaling information. As described before, the receiver may acquire theESG using ESG signaling information included in the bootstrap dependingon the designer's intention.

The receiver may acquire the L2 information by receiving and decodingthe PLP 4000400 carrying the L2 information using the L2 signalinginformation. In this case, the L2 information is configured in the formof a file and may be received by a file delivery protocol such as FLUTE,etc.

FIG. 45 illustrates the syntax of L2 signaling information according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 45, the L2 signaling information may be added to thesyntaxes of bootstrap and ESG signaling information according to thefirst and second embodiments of the present invention. The L2 signalinginformation may include an L2_IP_ADDRESS field, an L2_PORT_NUMBER field,an L2_SESSION_ID field, and an L2_PLP field. Fields other than the L2signaling information illustrated in FIG. 41 are identical to the fieldsdescribed with reference to FIG. 33 and thus a detailed description ofthe other fields will not be provided herein. The fields of the L2signaling information will be described below.

The L2_IP_ADDRESS field is a 32-bit or 48-bit field that may indicatethe IP address of the L2 information.

The L2_PORT_NUMBER field is a 16-bit field that may indicate the portnumber of the L2 information.

The L2_SESSION_ID field is a 16-bit field that may identify the sessionof the L2 information.

The L2_PLP field is an 8-bit field that may identify a PLP carrying theL2 information.

Therefore, the receiver may identify a PLP carrying the L2 informationfrom the L2_PLP field and may receive the L2 information using theL2_IP_ADDRESS field, the L2_PORT_NUMBER field, and the L2_SESSION_IDfield.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting abroadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described before with reference to FIG. 6, the BICM module 100200according to the embodiment of the present invention may encode PLP dataincluding a base layer and an enhancement layer of a broadcast serviceand signaling information for signaling the PLP data, respectively(S4200000).

The frame builder 100300 may generate a transmission frame (S4200100).As described before, the transmission frame may include a preamble and aplurality of PLPs. The preamble may include a P1 signaling informationregion and an L1 signaling information region. The preamble may or maynot include a common PLP, depending on the designer's intention. Theplurality of PLPs may correspond to the afore-described data region.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention,bootstrap and ESG signaling information may be transmitted in the L1signaling information region, whereas in accordance with the secondembodiment of the present invention, bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation may be transmitted in the common PLP. In the secondembodiment, the bootstrap and ESG signaling information may beconfigured in one of the binary data format, the PST/SI data format, andthe XML data form a depending on the designer's intention.

As described before, a bootstrap and an ESG may be transmitted in atleast one of the plurality of PLPs included in the data region.Therefore, the bootstrap and ESG signaling information may includeidentification information for identifying PLPs carrying the bootstrapand the ESG, that is, PLP_IDs, as described with reference to FIGS. 33to 36. The bootstrap signaling information and the ESG signalinginformation or only the bootstrap signaling information may betransmitted together in the L1 signaling information or the common PLP.In the latter case, the receiver may acquire the ESG signalinginformation by receiving the bootstrap, which may depend on thedesigner's intention.

When the bootstrap and ESG signaling information is transmitted in thecommon PLP according to the second embodiment of the present invention,the common PLP may also deliver L2 information such as IP-PLP mappinginformation, system information, and cell information. Or the L2information may be transmitted in a PLP of the data region. In thiscase, L2 signaling information for signaling the L2 information may betransmitted along with the bootstrap and ESG signaling information asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 44 and 45.

Then the OFDM generator 100400 may transmit a plurality of broadcastsignals including the generated transmission frame (S4200200).

FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating a method for receiving a broadcastsignal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described before, the OFDM demodulator 138100 according to theembodiment of the present invention may receive a plurality of broadcastsignals including a transmission frame for providing a broadcast serviceand may OFDM-demodulate the broadcast signals (S4300000).

The frame demapper 138200 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention may parse the transmission frame included in the demodulatedbroadcast signals (S4300100). As described before, the transmissionframe may include a preamble and a plurality of PLPs. The preamble mayinclude a P1 signaling information region and an L1 signalinginformation region. The preamble may or may not include a common PLP,depending on the designer's intention. The plurality of PLPs maycorrespond to the afore-described data region.

Then the first decoder 612300 may decode the signaling informationincluded in the preamble of the parsed transmission frame (S4300200).

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention,bootstrap and ESG signaling information may be transmitted in the L1signaling information region, whereas in accordance with the secondembodiment of the present invention, bootstrap and ESG signalinginformation may be transmitted in the common PLP. In the secondembodiment, the bootstrap and ESG signaling information may beconfigured in one of the binary data format, the PST/SI data format, andthe XML data form a depending on the designer's intention.

As described before, a bootstrap and an ESG may be transmitted in atleast one of the plurality of PLPs included in the data region.Therefore, the bootstrap and ESG signaling information may includeidentification information for identifying PLPs carrying the bootstrapand the ESG, that is, PLP_IDs, as described with reference to FIGS. 33to 36.

The bootstrap signaling information and the ESG signaling information oronly the bootstrap signaling information may be transmitted together inthe L1 signaling information or the common PLP. In the latter case, thereceiver may acquire the ESG signaling information by receiving thebootstrap, which may depend on the designer's intention.

When the bootstrap and ESG signaling information is transmitted in thecommon PLP according to the second embodiment of the present invention,the common PLP may also deliver L2 information such as IP-PLP mappinginformation, system information, and cell information. Or the L2information may be transmitted in a PLP of the data region. In thiscase, L2 signaling information for signaling the L2 information may betransmitted along with the bootstrap and ESG signaling information asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 44 and 45.

Then the second decoders 612100 and 612200 may receive a bootstrap andan ESG by selecting and decoding PLPs using the decoded signalinginformation (S4300300).

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention asdescribed above, the receiver may identify PLPs carrying a bootstrap andan ESG using a PLP_BOOT field and a PLP_ID field described before withreference to FIG. 29. In accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention as described above, the receiver may identify PLPscarrying a bootstrap and an ESG using a PLP_BOOT field (or abootstrap_PLP field) and a PLP_ID field described before with referenceto FIGS. 34, 35 and 36. Then the receiver may receive the bootstrap andthe ESG by decoding the respective PLPs.

The description of the present invention will not be limited only to theabove-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention. And, asit is shown in the appended claims of the present invention, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications andvariations can be made in the present invention, and that suchmodifications and variations cover the scope of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE PRESENT INVENTION

As described above, the present invention is described with respect tothe best mode for carrying out the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention may be fully (or entirely) orpartially applied to digital broadcast systems.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting broadcast signals, themethod comprising: input processing Transport Stream (TS) packets orInternet Protocol (IP) packets or Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE)streams to output data of a plurality of Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs);encoding signaling information for signaling the plurality of PLPs;encoding data of each of the plurality of PLPs, wherein the each of theplurality of PLPs carries at least one of a base layer and anenhancement layer of services; Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)mapping the encoded data of each of the plurality of PLPs; Multi-InputMulti-Output (MIMO) processing the QAM mapped data; time interleavingthe MIMO processed data; building first and second signal frames bymapping the time-interleaved data, wherein each of the first and secondsignal frames includes a preamble and data symbols, wherein the preambleincludes the signaling information and the data symbols include theplurality of PLPs, and wherein a PLP of the plurality of PLPs carries atleast one table including bootstrap information and Electronic ServiceGuide (ESG) signaling information; frequency interleaving data in thefirst and second signal frames; and modulating the frequency-interleaveddata by an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method andtransmitting first and second broadcast signals having the modulateddata.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ESG signaling informationincludes address information to acquire an ESG.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the ESG is transmitted in a different path from the first andsecond broadcast signals or the ESG is transmitted through the first andsecond broadcast signals.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstand second broadcast signals include scalability information of aservice.
 5. An apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, theapparatus comprising: an input processor to input process TransportStream (TS) packets or Internet Protocol (IP) packets or Generic StreamEncapsulation (GSE) streams to output data of a plurality of PhysicalLayer Pipes (PLPs); a first encoder to encode signaling information forsignaling the plurality of PLPs; a second encoder to encode data of eachof the plurality of PLPs, wherein the each of the plurality of PLPscarries at least one of a base layer and an enhancement layer ofservices; a mapper to Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) map theencoded data of each of the plurality of PLPs; a Multi-InputMulti-Output (MIMO) processor to process the QAM mapped data; a timeinterleaver to time interleave the MIMO processed data; a frame builderto build first and second signal frames by mapping the time-interleaveddata, wherein each of the first and second signal frames includes apreamble and data symbols, wherein the preamble includes the signalinginformation and the data symbols include the plurality of PLPs, andwherein a PLP of the plurality of PLPs carries at least one tableincluding bootstrap information and ESG Electronic Service Guide (ESG)signaling information; a frequency interleaver to frequency interleavedata in the first and second signal frames; and a modulator to modulatethe frequency-interleaved data by an Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM) method and transmit first and second broadcastsignals having the modulated data.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe ESG signaling information includes address information to acquire anESG.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ESG is transmitted in adifferent path from the first and second broadcast signals or the ESG istransmitted through the first and second broadcast signals.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second broadcast signalsinclude scalability information of a service.
 9. A method for receivingbroadcast signals, the method comprising: receiving the broadcastsignals and demodulating the received broadcast signals by an OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method; frequency de-interleavingthe demodulated broadcast signals by a pair of consecutive cells;parsing first and second signal frames from the frequency de-interleavedbroadcast signals, wherein each of the first and second signal framesincludes a preamble and data symbols, wherein the preamble includessignaling information and the data symbols include a plurality ofPhysical Layer Pipes (PLPs), wherein each of the plurality of PLPscarries at least one of a base layer and an enhancement layer ofservices, and wherein a PLP of the plurality of PLPs carries at leastone table including bootstrap information and Electronic Service Guide(ESG) signaling information; decoding the signaling information forsignaling the plurality of PLPs in the first and second frames; timede-interleaving data in the first and second signal frames; Multi-InputMulti-Output (MIMO) processing the time de-interleaved data; QuadratureAmplitude Modulation (QAM) de-mapping the MIMO processed data; decodingthe QAM de-mapped data to output data of the plurality of PLPs; andoutput processing the data of the plurality of PLPs to output TransportStream (TS) packets or Internet Protocol (IP) packets or Generic StreamEncapsulation (GSE) streams.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ESGsignaling information includes address information to acquire an ESG.11. The method of claim 9, wherein the ESG is received in a differentpath from the first and second broadcast signals or the ESG is receivedthrough the first and second broadcast signals.
 12. The method of claim9, wherein the first and second broadcast signals include scalabilityinformation of a service.
 13. An apparatus for receiving broadcastsignals, the apparatus comprising: a demodulator to receive thebroadcast signals and demodulate the received broadcast signals by anOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method; a frequencyde-interleaver to frequency de-interleave the demodulated broadcastsignals; a frame parser to parse first and second signal frames from thefrequency de-interleaved broadcast signals, wherein each of the firstand second signal frames includes a preamble and data symbols, whereinthe preamble includes signaling information and the data symbols includea plurality of Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs), wherein each of theplurality of PLPs carries at least one of a base layer and anenhancement layer of services, and wherein a PLP of the plurality ofPLPs carries at least one table including bootstrap information andElectronic Service Guide (ESG) signaling information; a first decoder todecode the signaling information for signaling the plurality of PLPs inthe first and second frames; a time de-interleaver to time de-interleavedata in the first and second signal frames; a Multi-Input Multi-Output(MIMO) processor to process the time de-interleaved data; a demapper toQuadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) de-map the MIMO processed data; asecond decoder to decode the QAM de-mapped data to output data of theplurality of PLPs; and an output processor to output process the data ofthe plurality of PLPs and output Transport Stream (TS) packets orInternet Protocol (IP) packets or Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE)streams.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ESG signalinginformation includes address information to acquire an ESG.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the ESG is transmitted in a differentpath from the first and second broadcast signals or the ESG istransmitted through the first and second broadcast signals.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second broadcast signalsinclude scalability information of a service.